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Gc 

929.2 
C83822S 
1950134 


REYNOLDS    HISTORICAL 
GENEALOGY   COLLECTION 


.ALLEN  COUNTY  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 


3  1833  01207  6417 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2010  with  funding  from 

Allen  County  Public  Library  Genealogy  Center 


http://www.archive.org/details/chronologicalgenOOsell 


WRONG-LOGICAL 

-.-*■•■  :-     ' 


HISiDESCENDANTS 


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INTRODUCTORY 


TfTHIS  hook  has  been  compiled  by  Julia  E. 
^^  Sellers,  a  great,  great,  grand-daughter  of 
James  Cowan,  Sr". 

Miss  Sellers  has  spent  much  time  and  ex- 
pense in  the  research  of  the  Cowan  Family 
History  contained  in  this  little  volume  with  a 
wish  to  preserve  the  knowledge  of  facts  now 
available  for  the  coming  generations. 


J  a  c  AJ  ,  o^nycJtn^y1  <-  >  iy     (111. 

-it)  £lblAri/1/W  AlAALlLct'  Mv^ruJxU 

r  .  7  l>  / 

)yim   (J  < ■  f  i  a  £  de.  iu^oh^^^m. 

$ttk\1      Jut  <<<  1'iwis,    c 1 7 z  /  D . 

is  ' 

s-  OM^&tU, 


■3 


Jonathan  Dayton  to  James  Cowan ---DEED 

Reed.  10th  Dec.  1800.     Recorded  12th  of  same  month  in  Buok    141)  etc. 

Said  Recording  100  cents.  <).  M.  Spencer,  B.  Recorder. 

To  all  to  whom  these  presents  shall  come- -Be  it  known  that  in  pursuance 
of  a  contract  made  and  executed  onthe  fifteenth  day  of  ( )ctoher.  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  One  Thousand  seven  hundred  and  eighty-eight,  between  Ar- 
thur Lee,  Walter  Livingston  and  Samuel  Osgood,  commissioners  of  the 
Board  of  Treasury,  and  Jonathan  Dayton  and  Daniel  Marsh  in  behalf  of 
John  Cleves  Symmes  as  his  agents  and  associates,  and  also  by  virtue  of  an 
act  of  Congress  entitled  an  act  authorizing  the  grant  and  conveyance  of 
certain  land  to  John  C.  Symmes  and  his  associates,  the  President  of  the 
United  States  did  conformally  to  the  powers  and  authority  in  him  vested 
and  in  consideration  of  the  payments  heretofore  made  into  the  Treasury 
of  certificates  and  Military  warrants  equal  in  value  to  one  hundred  and 
sixty-five  thousand  six  hundred  and  ninety-three  dollars  and  forty-two 
cents,  issue  letters  patent  to.  and  in  the  name  of  the  said  John  C.  Symmes 
and  associates  granting  and  conveying  to  him  and  them  two  hundred  and 
forty-eight  thousand  five  hundred  and  forty  acres  of  laud  exclusive  of  re- 
serves, bounded  by  the  Ohio  on  the  south  by  the  Little  Miami  river  east, 
and  by  the  Oreat  Miami  west.  And  whereas,  the  said  John  ( '.  Symmes  in 
consideration  of  Military  land  warrants  paid  into  the  Treasury  of  the  Cm 
ted  States  by  Jonathan  Dayton  and  placed  to  the  credit  of  said  Symmes 
equal in  thair  estimated  value  to  forty-two  thousand  eight  bundled  aid 
ninety-seven  dollars,  did  grant  and  convey  to  the  said  Jonathan  Dayton 
and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns  forever  by  a  deed  bearing  date  the  thirtieth 
dety  of  October,  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and  ninety-four. 

All  the  lands  contained  within  the  third  enter    Range    of    Townships' 
commonly  called  the  Military  Raugerexceptiug  only  the  five  sections  num- 
bered eight,  eleven,  sixteen,  twenty  five  ami  twenty  nine  in   every  Town 
ship,  originally  reserved    by    Congress.      Now.    therefore,    these    presents 
testify  that  I.  the  said  Jonathan  Dayton.  i:„  virtue  of  the  titles    derived  as 
aforesaid  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  sixteen   hundred    db'lars    lie- 
ing  full  payment  and  satisfaction    therefor  have   granted,     '.onveyed    and 
confirmed  and  do  hereby  grant  and  convey  and  confirm  unto  James  Cowan 
now  of  Hamilton  county  in  the  Northwestern  Territory  and    to   his    heirs 
and  assigns  forever  one  section  of  land  being  the    seventeenth    section    in 
the  fourth  township  of  the  aforesaid  third   or  Military    Range,    etc.    con 
taining  six  hundred  and  forty  acres:  to  have  and  to  hold  the  said  land    de 
scribed  as  aforesaid  with  all  its  a ppurtenanoes  unto  him    the   said   James 
Cowan  and  to  his  heirs  and  assigns,  to.  and  for   hi^  and  their  only  proper 
use,  benefit  and  behoof  forever.  In  Testimony   Whereof.  1    the   said 

Jonathan  Dayton,  by  my  attorney  Israel  Ludlow,  have  hereunto  set  my 
hand  and  seal  this  tenth  day  of  December  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  eighteen 
hundred.         Sealed  and  for  Jonathan  Dayton,  delivered    in    presence 

of  Isreal  Ludlow. Win.  Bruce. I.  Wright. Iraae)  Anderson 

Hamilton.  Before  me.  Joseph  Prince,  one  of  the  Justices  assign  - 

signed  to  keep  the  peace  in  said  county,  personally  came 
Israel  Ludlow  and  acklowledged  the  within  Instrument 
to  be  his  voluntary  act  and  deed  for  the  use  and  purpose 
herein  mentioned.  In  Testimony  whereof  I  have 
hereunto  put  my  hand  pnd  seal  the  10th  davof  Decern 
ber.  1800.  Joseph  Prince 

Note—The  seal  is  a  plain  piece  of  squar,  paper  without  any  mai  k  upon  it. 
pasted  upon  the  deed. 


Sisters 


—4— 

1--1.     James  Cowan,  Sr..  1745-1828.     Wife  Mary  Russel. 
1--2.     James  Cowan.  l??8.     Wife  of  Maeaiah  Reeder. 
2--2.     John  Cowan,  1781-1853.     First  wife,  Miss  Sewell 

Second  wife,  Sarah  French 
3-2     Charles  Cowan,  1784-1850.     Wife,  Jane  White  McPherson. 
4—2     James  Cowan,  Jr.,  1787-1873.     First  wife,  Mary  French 

Second  wife.  Lydia  Mix        '  lsterq" 
5.-2     William  Cowan,  1701-1821.     Wife  Rebecca  Whitehill. 

James  Cowan,  Sr.,  was  of  Irish  descent,  horn  in  the  year  of  1745.  Was 
the  eldest  son  of  many  children.  He  married  Mary  Russell,  an fl  to  this 
union  there  came  a  daughter  and  four  sons.  At  the  death  of  the  father 
in  Berkley  county,  West  Virginia,  then  Virginia,  by  right  of  primo  geni- 
ture,  then  the  law  of  that  State,  he  became  the  owner  of  all  his  father's 
real  estate,  but  he  voluntarily  divided  it  with  his  brothers  and  sisters, 
saying  that  though  the  law  gave  it  to  him.  he,  the  eldest  son.  had  no  more 
right  to  it,  in  justice  than  the  other  children. 

This  division  with  his  brothers  and  sisters  left  him   but  a  small  patri 

mony,  so  he  therefore  determined  to  come  to  a  new  eouu try  where   land 

was  cheap,  that  he  misrht  secure  a  home  for  all   his  children..     So.   James 

[     Cowan,  Sr.,  his  wife  Mary,  a  daughter  and  four  sons,  left  Berkley  county. 

about  six  miles  south  of  Harper's  Ferry,  and  arrived  near  Lebanon.  Ohio. 

November  3,  1800.   As    they   passed  through    Cincinnati,  now    where  the 

court  house  stands,  some  young  men  saw  they  were  headed    towards  Bee- 

dle's  Station,  a.s  they  thought.  One  of    the    young  men,  Maeaiah    Reeder. 

;    by  name,  noticed  they  had  a  young  girl  with  them,  so  he  follow  i  d  them 

1    on  horseback  and  finally  married  her.     As  young  girls  in  those  days  were 

!  scar  3e  in  the  new  west. 

It  was  said  that  the  son.  John,  had  in  view  "'a  prospective  bride*' 
from  the  family  of  Sewells:  they  having  'emigrated  to  Ohio  earlier. 

The  first  night  was  spent  with  the  Sewell  family,  who  lived  about  two 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Lebanon,  Ohio,  on  what  is  known  as    the  Shaker 
I  Town  Pike.     They  bben  went  about   a   mile  northwest    of    Lebanon   and 
stayed  until  the  spring  of  1801  on  what  is  known  as  the  Knox  Place. 

On  December  10.  1800,  James  Cowan.  Sr..    purchased   a  large  tract,   of 
land  of  six  hundred  and  forty  acres  for  sixteen  hundred  dollars,  about  two 
■  miles  west  of  Lebanon,  near  where  they  spent  the  first  night. 

He  had  three  different  sections  in  view,  sections  .">(),  22  and  17.  When 
he  went  to  look  for  a  place  to  locate,  his  wife  Mary  it  was  said  requested 
him  to  seUct  a  home  where  there  was  a  spring  with  horse  weeds  high  and 
strong  enough  to  tie  a  horse  to.  Each  of  the  sections  here  before  men- 
tioned fulfilled  the  request:  but  for  some  unknown  reason  section  17  was 
chosen,  which  in  infertility  was  the  poorest.  The  chosen  land  was  for- 
merly a  part  of  the  Great  Miami  Purchase  that  was  granted  to  John  Cle- 
aves Symmes,  October  15,  1788.  This  purchase  was  hounded  by  the  Ohio 
river  on  the  south,  the  Little  Miami  river  on  the  east;  the  Great  Miami 
river  on  the  west,  and  contained  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  thousand, 
five  hundred  and  forty  acres,  valued  at  four  hundred  and  twenty  thousand 
eight  hundred  and  ninety-seven  dollars.  On  October  30.  1794,  Jonathan 
Dayton  bought  all  the  lands  in  the  3rd  range  of  townships  commonly' 
called  the  Military  Range,  except  the  sections  8,  11.  16.  25.  39.  in  every 
township  which  was  reserved  by  Congress.  On  December  10.  1800,  Jona 
than  Dayton  sold  to  James  Cowan.  Sr.,  section  17  in  the  fourth   township 


—5— 

of  the  aforesaid  3rd  or  Military  range,  containing  six  hundred  and  forty 
acres  for  the  sum  of  sixteen  hundred  dollars.  Later,  this  land  came  into 
the  possession  of  James.  Sr. ,  three  children,  Jane,  Charles  and  John.  The 
other  two  children.  William  and  James.  Jr.,  received  lands  in  Ore.ne 
county.  There,  William  settled,  and  to  keep  .lames,  Jr.  from  settling 
there,  he,  being  a  carpenter  by  trade  and  a  judge  of  the  court.  Jane  sold 
him  eight  acres  for  a  hundred  dollars  and  John  sold  him  four  acres  for 
fifty  dollars,  making  a  total  of  twelve  acres.  When  John  emigrated  west 
August  11,  1828,  he  sold  a  hundred  and  three  acres  to  James,  Jr..  for  a 
thousand  dollars,  and  the  rest  of  his  land  he  sold  to  a  Mr.  Thompson. 

James,  Jr.,  was  married  and  settled  on  the  said  twelve  acres  in  the 
year  of  1814.  There  he  and  his  descendants  have  resided  for  over  a  cen- 
tury.    At  present  this  place  is  owned  by  a  grandson.  Ellis  Howard  Cowan. 

May  4,  1811,  the  son  Charles  came  into  possession  of  two  hundred  and 
seven  acres  valued  at  four  thousand  dollars.  All  of  this  land  is  still  held 
by  his  grand  children.  Harry  Cowan,  Minnie  Sellers.  Killa  Blin  ami  Anna 
Mulford.  On  this  land  was  located  the  old  cabin  where  James.  Ri\.  and 
family  lived.  To  be  more  definite  this  cabin  was  in  the  northeast  corner 
of  Harry  Cowan's  present  garden  which  i^  just  north  of  the  present  house. 
The  old  cabin  had  two  rooms  with  an  entry  between,  so  in  time  as  each 
child  married  it  became  too  cramped,  so  the  son.  Charles,  had  another 
house  built:  James,  Jr  ,  being  a  carpenter  by  trade  built  it  for  his  brother 
Charles.  In  those  days  it  was  common  to  have  apprentice  boys.  James. 
Jr.,  had  one  helping  him  and  it  was  supposed  the  boy  became  rired.  for 
one  night  he  gathered  together  the  tools  in  what  was  then  "the  good 
room,"  now  the  sitting  room;  then  he  carried  live  coals  in  a  tin  cup  and 
built  a  fire  to  burn  the  tools.  Charles'  two  eldest  sons,  John  and  William 
were  sleeping  upstairs:  they  smelled  the  smoke,  and  in  that  way  the  home 
was  saved.  But  large  holes  were  burnt  in  the  floor.  This  floor  remained 
until  February  1911  when  it  was  removed.  Of  this  house  there  remains 
four  rooms  in  the  main  part  of  the  present  house,  and  the  old  kitchen 
which  was  moved  to  the  rear- 

The  parentage  of  James  Cowan.  Rr..  and  that  of  his  wife  Mary  we  do 
not  know  about.  On  the  top  shelf  of  the"  big  cupboard  which  was  in 
grand-mother  Jaaie  White  McPherson  Cowan's  room,  to  be  more  definite 
it  was  one  of  the  smaller  of  the  above  four  rooms  mentioned,  there  were 
found  some  old  parchment  papers  that  have  been  handed  down  from  gen- 
eration to  generation.  Cue  a  will  which  was  made  September  18.  17''4. 
by  Robert  Shields,  living  in  the  township  of  Bethlehem,  county  of  Hun 
terdon.  Province  of  West  New  Jersey.  In  this  will  he  speaks  of  my  sis- 
ter, Jane  Cowan,  wife  of  John  Cowan-  another,  a  deed,  made  the  2tith 
year  of  the  reign  of  George  II  over  Great  Britain  about  the  year  of  1753. 
It  was  from  George  Silverthorn.  living  in  the  township  of  Grenech.  coun- 
ty of  Morris,  Western  Division  of  the  Province  of  New  Jersey  to  John 
Cowan,  who  lived  in  the  township  of  Bethlehem,  county  of  Hunterdon. 
Province  of  West  New  Jersey,  one  hundred  and  five  acres  near  Spruce 
Run. 

Question:  Why  were  theseold  pardiment  papers  brought  intothenew 
west  with  the  Cowans  if  they  did  not  belong  to  their  ancestors'1 


—6— 

1--1     James  Cowan,  Sr.,  1745-1828-  wife  Mary  Russell,  1750-1820. 
1--2     Jane  Cowan  1778,  wife  of  Macaiah  Reeder, 

April  24,  1779,  Sept.  4,  184:?. 
1--3    James  Milton  1805-1895-  first  wifeRosetta  MoCarty. 
1-4  James  D  1820;  2-4  Allen  B  1883;   3-4  Harriet  P  1835;   4  4    William   W 
1837;  5-4  Leah  1830;  6-4  Sarah  D  1843. 

Second  wife  Jane  Burbridge.  1-4  Matilda  1844:  2-4  Thomas  M  1846; 
3-4  John  N  1848;  4-4  Eliza  J  1840;  5-4  Lovia  M  1853;  6-4  William  B  1855; 
7-4  Mary  E  1857;  8-4  George  N  1850;  0  4  Claudina  1861.  2-3  Annie  M  1806, 
wife  of  John  Pauley.      1-4  Sarah;  2  4  Milton 

wife  of  Jennie  Benedict. 
1-5  Dr.  Charles  A- Pauley,  wife  Lydia  Corwin;  16  (in  army)  Robert:  2-6 
Mananiia;  3-4  Daniel,  wife  Marianaa  Booth:  1-5  habe;  2  5  Emily  Belle, 
22  months;  3-5  James  Barrett,  wife  Elino  Ludlow:  4-4  William  wife  Dolly 
Shaffer;  1-5  Lily,  Mr.  Albert,  Chicago;  2-5  Hattie,  deceased;  5-4  Claudiena, 
wife  of  Frank  Baker:  1-5  Anna,  wife  of  William  Lacy;  1-6  Louise;  2-6 
Frank;  3-6  Laura:  4-6  boy:  6-4  Aaron:  7-4  George  1847-1017.  wife  Clara 
Frances  Cox.  1-5  Harold,  Troy.  Ohio:  2  5  Frederick,  infant:  3-5  William, 
Colorado; "3-3  Charles  1808-1865,  wife  Sarah  Hart;  1-4  John,  deceased:  2  1 
William;  3-4  Charles;  4-4  Oscar,  deceased;  5-4  Zebeniah;  6-4  James;  7-4  Al- 
fred Stout;  4-3  George  Washington,  1811,  wife  Jane  Thompson;  1-4  Mary 
Louisa,  November  4,  1836,  September  21.  1916,  wife  of  David  Mulford: 
1-5  Acla,  one  year:  2  5  John  Q,  1011,  first  wife  Mollie  Keever,  second  wife 
May  Probasco:  1-6  Dorothy,  infant:  2-6  Hewett;  3-6  Marion;. 4-6  John:  5-6 
Robert,  infant:  3  5  Jehu  C.  first  wife  Mattie  Dunham  Aug.  21.  1860,  April 
20.  1889-  1-6  boy.  infant,  March  15,  1881:  2-0  boy,  infant.  March  12.  1886; 
2  6  boy.  infant,  March  12,  1886;  3-6  Helen  Dunham.  Second  wife  Minnie 
Mote;  1-6  Lena,  wife  of  Albert  Irons:  1-7  Hushel  J;  2-6  Walter,  wife  Mil- 
dred Huber;  1-7  Myron  C:  2-7  Miriam:  3-6  Etta  May.  wife  of  Ohmer Nixon; 
J -7  Roger  O;  4-6  Grace,  wife  of  Walter  Middleton;  5-6  Lucy;  4-5  Jane  Ellen, 
infant:  5  5  Elva  C,  infant;  6-5  Eddie,  infant;  7-5  David  R.  first  wife  Musa 
Scott;  1-G  Darrell;  second  wife  Elfie  Plipps;  1-6  Mary  Margaret;  2-6  Sarena 
Pearl;  3  6  Gertrude  Loucile;  8-5  Sarena  D,  wife  of  Charles  Gustin;  1-6  Pau- 
line; 2-6  Earl:  3-6  Reva;  4-6  Orion;  5-6  Doris  Eugene;  9-5  Pearl  E,  wife  of 
L.  D.  W7ills;  1-6  Estel.  wife  of  Russell  Haines:  1-7  Elmer  Robert:  2-7  Hi -h  - 
ard  R;  2-6  (in  army)  Elmer,  wife  Bonnie  Fitzgerald  .  3-6  Eldred.  infant: 
4-6  Robert.  2-4  Sarena  IP38-1862.  wife  of  William  Decker;  3  4  Joseph  1839. 
killed  in  civil  war;  4-4  Charles  1«4',  infant:  5-4  Allen  1*42.  died  during  th<- 
war:  6-4  Harriet  J  1843-1*93.  wife  of  Hiram  Keller:  1-5  Marie  Keller,  wife 
of  Clem  Erisman;  7-4  Caleb  1845,  wife  Josephine  Hillsbeck;  1.-5  Olive  Reed 
er,  wife  of  Dr.  Arthur  Miller:  8-4  James  1847  wife  Rena  Ohlfest.O  h  Th«s. 
1840  died  in  San  Francisco:  10-4  Annie  1851,  U-4  George  1851.  twins.  Annie 
wife  of  Dr.  Welch:  12  4  Emma  1853.  wife  of  William  Watkins  1-5  E'ta 
1910,  wife  of  Peter  Boilan;  1-6  Francis,  boy;  13-4  Florence  1855,  wife  of  R. 
B.  Miller;  1-5  Irene,  wife  of  Jesse  F-  Gannaway;  2-5  Elwood.  wife  Alice 
Davenport;  1-6  Bertha  Bernice;  2-6  Madeline  Carrie:  3-5  Golden  Reeder 
wife  Mildred  Hess;  1-6  John  Richard;  14-4  Pauline  1857  wife  of  Levi  Berk- 
stresser;  1-5  Bertha,  wife  of  Edgar  Nash  Johnson;  1  6  Edgar  Nash,  Jr. ; 
15-4  Rudolph  R  1850.  wife  May  Hewett  (  Xmas  1918);  1-5  Irene  May, 
wife  of  Harold  VanNess;l-6  Paul   Hewett;  2-6   Constance;  2-5   Ruth  An- 


geline.  wife  of  Rev.  Charles  N.  Arhuckle:  3-5  Grace  Amelia:  4-"i  Edwin 
Hewett,  wife  ;  1-0  Edwin  Hewett,  Jr. :  r> •  5  <in   army     Ku- 

dolph  Hex;  1(5-4  Drusilia  1801-1861:  17-4  baby,  1864:  5.-3  Borah  Drusilia 
1812-Oct  21.  1861,  wife  of  William  L.  John:  ii  3  .Joseph  181 1:  7-3  Harriet 
Jane  1817-1853:  8-3  baby,  not  named,   1821. 


—  s— _ 

JANE  CO"W  AN,  daughter  of  James  Cowan.  Senior,  married  Maeaiah 
Reeder.  The  circumstances  leading  up  to  this  union  were  rather  ro- 
mantic. Maeaiah 'js  father  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Cincinnati  and 
tanned  the  land  where  the  court  house  of  Cincinnati  now  stands.  When 
James  Cowan  was  traveling  from  Virginia  in  a  wagon  to  set  tie  in  Ohio  he 
passed  through  Cincinnati,  then  a  town  of  about  five  hundred  inhabitants. 
It  was  on  this  occasion  that  Maeaiah  saw  the  face  of  a  beautiful  young 
girl  looking  out  through  the  opening  in  the  cover  of  her  father's  wagon, 
and  he  received  a  smile  from  that  face  that  "did  him  up."  as  it  were.  No 
difference  how  hard  he  tried  to  forget  it  "that  bright  smile  haunted  him 
still."  The  wagon  has  passed  on.  he  knew  not  whither,  and  the  girl  with 
it,  but  that  smile  stayed  with  him.  Some  time  afterward  he  learned  by 
chance  that  James  Cowan  had  settled  on  Turtle  Creek,  about  HO  miles 
northeast  of  Cincinnati  in  what  is  now  Warren  county.  So.  young  Reed- 
er began  saving  his  dimes  in  order  to  make  himself  as  presentable  as  pos- 
sible, mounted  his  horse,  and  started  lor  Turtle  ('reek  on  the  grandest  un- 
dertaking of  his  life,  and  he  made  a  success  of  it.  as  he  did  in  most  of  his 
undertakings  in  after  years.  They  built  them  a  log  house  on  part  of  the 
section  of  land  purchased  by  -Tames  Cowan.  While  Jane  made  the  garden. 
looked  after  the  chickens  and  did  all  the  household  duties.  Maeaiah  swung 
his  six-pound  axe  from  early  morn  till  late  at  night  into  tin1  grand  oak. 
walnut  and  maple  trees  that  had  possession  of  his  land.  When  one  of  the 
grand  monarchs of  the  forest  would  come  crashing  to  the  ground  Jane 
would  stand  perfectly  still  and  listen  for  the  sound  of  his  axe  again  and 
when  she  heard  it  she  knew  he  had  not  been  injured  by  the  falling  tree. 
It  made  no  difference  whether  she  was  stirring  the  soft  soap,  mixing  the 
corn  pone  or  roasting  the  venison,  she  could  go  no  further  with  it  until  she 
heard  the  sound  of  that  axe  again. 

When  the  war  of  1812  broke  out  Ma -aiah  left  his  children  and  the 
farm  under  the  wise  management  of  his  faithful  wife,  shouldered  his  flint 
lock,  and  hastened  to  the  rescue  of  his  young  Uncle  Saminie  whom  John 
Bull  was  giving  a  close,  hard  game.  lie  was  soon  elected  commander  of 
his  mess  by  his  comrades,  showing  tin1  confidence  they  had  in  hi- honesty. 
Part  of  his  duty  was  to  draw  their  rations  and  see  that  they  were  equally 
divided  among  them.  The  men  in  his  mess  from  about  Lebanon  were 
Howard  Dunlavey,  J.  E.  Smith.  James  Sinyards,  Simmons  Wollery  ami 
David  Wollery-  With  his  men's  welfare  uppermost  in  bis  mind.  Maeaiah 
cautioned  them  to  be  careful  with  their  rations  and  not  waMe  th'-m  for 
they  did  not  always  know  when  they  would  be  able  to  draw  tin  m.  But 
some  of  the  3*onnger  men  paid  little  heed  to  his  warning.  <>n<»  night  af- 
ter a  hard  day's  march  two  of  his  men.  David  Wonlery  and  .Tames  Sin- 
yards,  eame  to  him  and  said  they  had  nothing  to  eat  and  had  had  nothing 
all  day.  Maeaiah  reached  down  in  his  haversack  and  fished  out  hi-  last 
biscuit— an  old  rusty  one  at  that— broke  it  in  two  and  gave  half  to  each  of 
them,  who  devoured  it  with  the  energy  of  two  hungry  dogs.  Thirty  miles 
of  dust  road  lay  between  them  and  their  supplies  where  they  expected  to 
draw  rations  the  next  night.  Ever  ready  to  divide  his  last  morsel  with 
his  feMow  men  was  the  disposition  of  the  man  who  had  the  honor  of  beiug 
the  husband  of  Jane  Cowan. 

After  the  war.  Maeaiah  returned  to  his  family  and  farm,  and  he  and 
Jane  set  abouC  to  build  them  a.  new  house,  which  was  to  be  of  brick,   one 


of  the  fii'st  of.  that  kind  to  be  built  iu  that  section  of  the  country.  They 
manufactured  the  brick  on  their  farm  and  ;ili  the  lumber  in  the  house was 
taken  from  the  farm.  The  finishing  lumber  in  chat  house  was  very  fine. 
Part  of  it  was  removed  and  taken  to  Lebanon  year1- ago  to  finish  a  ftiie  res- 
idence there.  With  the  love  they  had  for  each  other  it  was  very  easy  An- 
them to  think  that  Solomon  in  his  gold-lined  temple  was  no  happier  than 
they.     Jane  died  at  Lebanon,  0 

Macaiah  died  at  Crawfordsville,  Ind.,  in  1843. 

.lane  and  Macaiah  Keeder  raised  six  children  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood. James  M.,  the  eldest  son.  raised  quite  a  number  of  children.  His 
wife  died  and  left  several  quite  young  children,  one  being  only  five  weeks 
old.  Kind  neighbors  tried  to  help  him  with  I  hem  as  best  they  could.  One 
day  one  of  the  neigh hor  women  told  him  lie  must  hud  a  wile  to  he  a  mother 
to  his  little  children,  esp  'cially  the  youngest  one.  hut  he  said,  "what  will 
my  friends  think  of  me  if  1  marry  so  soon  after  my  wile's  death?"  The 
lady  said,  "'your  children  are  more  to  you  thau  the  opinion  of  your  friends, 
let  them  do  the  talking  and  you  do  the  good  work." '  She  told  him  she 
knew  of  a  very  nice  lady  who  lived  several  miles  away  who  w<mld  make 
him  a  good  wife,  and  she  kn.  w  there  would  he  no  difficulty  about  him  he 
inir  favorably  received.  So.  .lames  whined  his  shoes,  put  on  his  "best  bib 
and  tucker.  n  saddled  his  best  horse,  and  struck  out  down  the  pike  ou  his 
friendly  mission,  but  probably  feeling  much  different  than  his  father  had 
felt  when  he  rode  on  a  similar  mission  from  Cincinnati  to  Turtle  (-reek 
many  years  before.  After  dames  talked  the  matter-  over  with  I  he  lady  he 
assisted  her  to  a  seat  on  the  horse  hehinrl  him  and  they  rede  to  a  minister's 
and  were  married.  When  they  reached  home  the  kind  neighbor  who  had 
been  instrumental  in  bringing  all  this  about  had  supper  ready,  and  they 
all  sat  down  to  a  glorious  wedding  least,  after  which  the  kind  neighbor 
slipped  away  across  the  fields  to  her  family  and  left  them  alone  in  their 
glory.  Iu  this  matter  James  showed  the  good  "horse  sense"  and  judg- 
ment that  naturally  belonged  to  the  Cowan  blood. 

When  the  youngest  child  was  a  young  lady  eighteen  years  of  age.  she 
was  one  day  joking  with  her  father  and  he  was  teasing  her  about  some- 
thing. She  told  him  that  if. he  didn't  stop  it  she  would  tell  her  mother. 
He  replied,  "you  have  no  mother. ''  He  then  told  her  the  sad  story.  She 
was  so  overcome  that  her  father  was  very  anxious  ahoul  her  for  a  little 
while,  hut  recovering  soon  she  saddled  her  horse  and  went  to  a  neigh- 
bor's, and  the  lady  noticing  how  pale  and  excited  she  looked,  asked  her 
what  was  the  trouble.  She  said.  "lam  told  I  have  no  mother."  The 
lady  asked,  "who  told  you  that?"  She  said,  "father.'1  She  smiled  and 
said,  "your  father  told  you  the  truth.  " 

James  M.  died  at  Kokomo,  Iud.,  in  the  is'.urs. 

Charles  C.  the  second  son  of  .lane  and  Macaiah  IJei  der,  became  w  hat 
was  called  in  those  days,  a  down-the  river  trad*  r.  "  '1  he-"  traders  would 
load  flat-  boats  with  grain  and  merchandise  and  float  them  by  the  current 
and  paddle  down  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to  New  Orleans  or  some  town 
between  the  starting  place  and  New  <  )rleans.  where  they  would  sell  their 
cargo  and  hire  a  steamer  to  tow  their  boats  back.  Charles  was  one  of  the 
greatest  mechanics  of  the  Cowan  blood  of  his  time— a  carpenter,  a  black- 
smith, a  millwright,  a  stonemason,  a  brickmason.  a  cabinet  maker,  and  a 
farmer:  in  fact  few  came  nearer  being  jack  of   all    trades   and  master   of 


—  10— 

them  all  than  Charles  C.  Reeder.  He  was  a  contractor  and  builder  for  a 
number  of  years  in  the  South,  and  a  number  of  young  men  went  from 
about  Lebanon  to  work  for  him.  He  married  Sarah  Hart,  a  daughter  of 
Judge  Hart,  of  Lebanon.  Of  this  union  there  were  seven  boys  who  lived 
to  manhood.    Charles  C-  Reeder  died  at  Flora.  Illinois,  in  I8(ir>. 

John  H.  Reeder,  son  of  Charles  C.  Reeder,  died  in  the  War  of  the  Re- 
bellion at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  in  18f>4. 

Charles  C,  Junior,  like  his  father,  was  quite  a  mechanic.  He  was  a 
successful  contractor  and  builder  at  Lincoln,  Illinois,  where  he  also  held 
public  office. 

Zephaniah,  another  son,  became  a  successful  business  man  at  Council 
Bluffs,  Iowa. 

Alfred  S..  the  youngest,  was  a  successful  mechanic. 

George  W.,  the  third  son  of  Macaiah  and  Jane  Reeder.  stayed  on  his 
father's  farm  until  he  married  Jane  Thompson,  and  then  moved  to  south 
em  Wisconsin,  to  what  is  now  Green  county.  They  went  by  boat  down 
the  Ohio  river  and  up  the  Mississippi  river.  George  could  tell  of  many 
exciting  experiences  he  had  in  the  Northwest  in  those  days.  He  had  to 
haul  most  of  the  products  of  his  farm  to  Madison,  which  was  forty  miles 
distant,  or  to  Fort  Winnebago  which  was  eighty  miles  away.  This  hauling 
he  did  in  the  winter  on  sleds.  He  often  made  those  trips  alone,  and  on 
one  of  those  lonely  trips  he  found  after  he  started  that  he  had  failed  to 
put  his  gun  into  the  sled,  but  he  had  an  axe  and  he  thought  as  he  had  had 
no  particular  use  for  the  gun  on  former  trips,  except  to  kill  game,  he  could 
get  along  with  only  the  axe  for  a  weapon •  for  he  had  in  his  sled  pleutj'  of 
fresh  meat  for  the  trip.  About  nine  o'clock  the  second  day  out  from 
home  he  noticed  a  large  gray  wolf  following  him  a  short  distance  behind 
the  sled.  He  was  one  of  the  largest  of  his  species,  and  a  wolf  was  about 
the  only  animal  in  that  section  of  the  country  that  was  liable  to  attack  a 
man  single  handed.  He  followed  until  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  He 
probably  smelled  the  fresh  meat  in  the  sled.  George  knew  he  had  the 
wolf  to  fight,  and  as  it  would  be  after  dark  when  h~  reached  his  camping 
ground  he  wa.s  afraid  the  wolf  would  attack  him  before  he  conld  iret  his 
fire  built,  and  as  soon  as  darkness  came  the  wolf  was  liable  to  call  others 
to  his  assistance.  So  George  thought  he  would  rather  fight  him  while  it 
was  yet  light.  He  unhitched  his  team  and  tied  them  to  the  sled,  and  be- 
ing a  powerful  man  physically,  he  considered  he  was  able  to  do  up  any 
animal  that  roamed  that  country  in  a  single  hand  combat.  So  he  stripped 
off  his  coats  and  vest,  took  his  axe.  and  walked  quietly  to  meet  the  wolf. 
The  wolf  was  sitting  down  a  few  yards  behind  the  sled,  but  when  he  saw 
G?orge  start  towards  him.  he  stood  up  and  showed  his  teeth,  ready  for  a 
fray.  When  George  advanced  within  a  few  feet  of  him.  all  the  while 
steadily  looking  him  in  the  eye,  the  wolf  turned  and  ran.  and  kept  run- 
ning as  far  as  hecould  be  seen  After  spending  eight  years  in  Wisconsin 
George  moved  back  to  his  father's  place  in  Ohio.  George  W.  died  at  Nor- 
mal. Illinois,  in  1882. 

George  W.  and  Jane  Reeder  probably  raised  the  largest  family  of  any 
of  the  Cowan  blood.  They  had  seventeen  children,  eight  boys  and  nine 
girls.  Fourteen  lived  to  be  grown.  Joseph  H  .  the  oldest  of  the  boys, 
fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson.  and  died  the  next 
morning.     He  was  a  member  of  the    11th   Indiana    Zouaves,    a  regiment 


m ^1 1— 

that  was  commanded  by  Colonel  (afterwards  GeneraU'Lewis  Wallace,  the 
author  of  Ben  Hiir. 

Allen  B.  and  Caleb  T.,  after  attending  the  Southwestern  Normal 
School  at  Lebanon.  Ohio,  for  two  terms,  served  tour  months  in  the  140th 
Ohio  Infantry  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion,  and  each  rejeived  a  personal 
letter  of  thanks  from  Abraham  Lincoln  for  their  services.  Allen  B.  vol- 
unteered again  in  the  1 83rd  Ohio  Volunteer  Infantry.  .lames  ("..  a  youth 
of  seventeen,  went  with  him.  They  were  both  soon  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  noncommissioned  officers.  After  lighting  in  the  battles  of  the 
campaign  in  Tennessee  in  18(54,  Allen  died  of  fever,  and  was  buried  at 
Louisville.  Kentucky.  At  the  dose  of  the  war  George  W.  had  lost  all  his 
property  and  seemed  to  have  lost  his  faculties  for  accumulating  more,  so 
the  management  of  the  affairs  of  the  ten  children  that  were  left  at  home 
fell  mostly  on  the  oldest  hoy.  Caleb  T.,  a  boy  of  nineteen  years.  His  was 
the  master  mind,  lie  went  to  Illinois  and  rented  a  farm  in  Coles  countv. 
and  the  family  moved  there  in  18(50.  and  for  ten  years  the  struggle  to  ed- 
ucate the  children  was  continued.  The  girls  all  became  school  teachers, 
excepting  one.  Caleb  T.  went  to  the  West  and  was  a  contractor  for  a 
number  of  years  in  Nevada  and  Utah,  lie  returned  to  Illinois  and  was  in 
the  mercantile  business  aft  Steward-son  for  many  years,  lie  was  also  post- 
master there,   and  he  is  now  justice  of  the  peace. 

James  C.  went  to  Texas  in  1871  and  helped  drive  5000  head  of  cattle 
across  the  plains  to  Idaho  in  1872,  when  they  traveled  (j 00  miles  at  one 
stretch  without seeiug  a  white  man's  habitation.  How  different  it  is  now 
when  one  may  sit  in  the  parlors  of  the  fine  i  esidences  that  dnt  that  coun- 
try to-day  and  listen  to  piano  or  victrola  music,  while  in  those  (lavs  the 
only  music  one  had  was  the  howl  of  the  woif.  the  hissing  sound  of  the 
rattlesnake,  and  the  sliri'J  whistle  of  the  whippoorwill  James  C.  return- 
ed to  Illinois,  and  now  has  his  home  at  Harvey  in  that  State. 

Thomas  C.  was  also  a  pioneer  of  the  west;.  He  went  to  western  Kan- 
sas in  1K71  and  took  up  a  claim  where  the  town  of  Wellington  now  stands. 
He  finally  drifted  to  the  Pacific  Coast  and  died  in  San  Francisco  in  1883. 

George  W..  Jr  .  graduated  from  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University 
and  followed  educational  work  for  a  number  of  years,  but  finally  drifted 
into  the  mining  business-  and  became  a  mineral  expert  He  now'  lives  in 
Idaho.     Few  were  bitter  judges  of  raw  ore  than  George  W.  Reeder. 

Rudolph  Ft.,  youngest  of  the  boys,  is  by  far  the  best  educated  of  the 
family,  and  probably  one  of  the  best  educated  of  the  Cowan  blood.  He 
taught  pchool  at  the  age  of  15.  was  graduated  from  the  Illinois  state  Nor- 
mal University -and  was  one  of  the  faculty  of  that  institution  f"r  several 
years.  He  also  graduated  from  the  Columbia  University  at  New  York 
and  received  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  He  has  written  a  number  of  books  and 
several  noted  colleges  are  using  his  text  books.  He  has  been  superintend- 
ent of  the  orphan  asylum  society  in  the  city  of  New  York  for  twenty 
years.  Shortly  after  this  country  went  to  war  with  Germany  the  man- 
ager of  civil  affairs  of  the  American  Red  Cross  in  Fiance  cabeled  to  the 
Red  Cross  headquarters  in  Washington  earnestly  requesting  the  services 
of  Dr.  Reeder  to  inspect  institutions  in  France  and  look  after  Belgian  and 
French  war  orphans  This  cable  was  followed  by  one  to  the  trustees  of 
the  orphanage.  Under  the  pressure  of  the  two  cablegrams  the  trustees 
did  not  feel  that  they  had  the  right  to  hold  Dr.  Reeder,  nor  did  he  feel 
that  he  had  the  right  to  refuse  his   services.      He  took    the  first    ship  for 


—12— 

France  after  he  had  gotten  the  word  to  go,  and  he  has  been  very  success- 
ful in  his  work  there.  He  had  sent  his  younger  son,  Rex.  on  a  mission  to 
China,  a  lad  then  in  his  teens,  but  when  the  war  began  to  be  interesting 
then  his  Cowan  blood  arose.  Likeanoldwarliorse.be  scented  the  battle 
afar,  and  hastening  oyer  the  placid  Pacific  crossing  the  continent  to  New 
York,  he  visited  at  home  for  a  few  days  and  then  volunteered  in  the  field 
artillery  as  a  private.  He  went  to  France  and  entered  an  artillery  officers' 
training  school,  and  was  one  of  four  out,  of  1000  applicants  who  were  suc- 
cessful in  passing  the  examination.  Sadness  entered  his  home  Xmas  of 
li)]8  when  the  mother  was  taken-  She  had  been  failing  in  health  for  some 
months.  All  was  done  for  her  that  could  be  done,  but  her  disease  was  that 
of  a  chronic  nature,  and  no  help  could  be  given  her. 

The  following  is  a  part  of  a  letter  from  Rudolph  Reeder,  American 
Red  Cross  commissioner,  written  from  Toul.  Mourthe  Moselle.  Fiance: 

"J  spent  about  three  weeks  in  Paris  inspecting  institutions  for  the 
American  Red  Cross  and  also  waiting  for  my  uniform,  military  passes  to 
enter  the  war  /one,  etc.  I  then  came  out  to  this  place,  which  you  can 
look  up  on  the  maj).  It  is  about  200  miles  almost  due  cast  of  Paris.  Jt  is 
in  the  neighborhood  ot  interesting  things  going  on  almost  every  day.  To- 
day has  been  quite  a  turbulent  day  if  one  may  judge  by  the  roar  <d  artil 
lery.  It  is  so  far  away  much  of  the  time  as  only  to  jar  tin1  windows, except 
when  an  wnemy  sky  pilot  undertakes  to  reconnoiter  over  in  this  direction 
and  things  tret  pretty  lively  right  here.  We  have  about  500  refugee  chil- 
dren and  50  mothers  here  from  districts  too  close  to  the  trenches  to  be  sate 
for  them.  The  poor  children  have  seen  some  hard  times,  but  notwitb 
standing  all  that  they  have  endured  they  are  cheerful  and  very  responsive 
to  wiiat  you  do  for  them  There  are  some  'J  J  bui'dings  in  the  plant,  which 
includes  a  well  equipped  hospital  ami  a  school  Tt  is  of  course  only  a  tem- 
porary affair,  for  wh  u  the  war  is  over  the  children  and  mothers  will  re- 
turn to  their  homes.  It  is  one  of  many  pieces  of  relief  work  the  American 
Bed  Cross  is  doing  in  France.  About  the  scarcest  article  in  the  cold 
weather  we  have  had  is  heat.  All  heating  in  the  places  is  done  by  small 
stoves.  You  can  imagine  the  condition  it  you  should  think  of  our  cottages 
at  the  Hastings  orphanage  as  having  only  one  small  stove  each.  We  had 
quite  a  Christmas  entertainment  for  the  children,  a  tree  in  each  building 
with  a  gift  for  each  child  and  a  little  Christmas  program.  The  children 
are  delighted  to  show  in  some  way  their  appreciation  of  the  service  Am- 
ericans are  rendering  them,  and  about  the  only  thing  the  little  one-  can 
do  is  to  learn  and  '-ing  American  Mings.  In  Par:-  the  children  in  two  or 
three  institutions,  poor  little  one-  from  Belgium.  lined  up  and  sang  for 
me  'The  Star  Spangled  Banner,  ending  up  with  'Vive  Amerique:'  they  al- 
•-osang  'Away  Down  in  Dixie.'  It  was  very  funny  to  hear  them  all  come 
in  on  Decxee."  They  take  great  pleasure  in  singing  "Teeperary. '  The  chil- 
dren that  are  here  are  nearly  all  quite  young.  They  were  removed  from 
their  homes  because  too  young  to  wear  the  gasmasks  for  their  protection.  " 

Mary  L  .  the  oldest  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Jane  Reeder.  married 
David  Mnlford.  Oct.'  10.  1858.  To  them  were  born  nine  children,  five  of 
whom  with  her  husband  preceded  her  to  the  heavenly  home.  In  1858  they 
moved  from  Ohio  to  Kansas  and  lived  through  the  greatdrough  of  1860 
when  there  was  nothing  scarcely  raised  in  the  State.  Most  of  their  stock 
died  of  starvation.  There  were  relief  societies  formed  in  the  Fast  to  help 
the  people  of  Kansas,  but  the  man  whose  folks  were    well-to  do   received 


13 


no  benefits,  and  of  course  David  got  nothing  from  that  source.  But  David 
being  a  man  who  always  relied  on  his  own  resources,  took  his  team  and 
wagon  and  went  to  the  buffalo  range  of  western  Kansas.  There  he  killed 
bnffalo  and  loaded  his  wagon  with  meat  and  returned  home. and  from  that 
time  on  until  he  raised  a  crop  it  was  corn  bread  and  buffalo  meat,  and 
that  well  sweetened  with  hunger.  They  were  in  constant  fear  of  mas- 
sacres at  the  time  when  Quantralls  band  of  bush  whackers  passed  through 
the  State  near  their  home  Mary  had  her  babies  in  the  hushes  to  prevent 
their  being  slain.  She  saw  Lawrence  burned  by  Quanrtralls.  David  went 
with  his  regiment  on  the  Powder  river  expedition  in  ISttJS  where  they  ex- 
perienced hardships  hardly  equalled  anywhere  during  the  war.  Horse  and 
mule  meat  was  a  luxurious  diet  on  several  occasions.  Added  to  the  other 
hardships  endured  by  the  pioneers  of  the  west  were  that  of  chills  and  fe- 
v bv  which  claimed  four  of  their  children.  This  influenced  them  to  return 
to  (  Miio  after  twelve  years  having  been  spent  in  Kansas.  In  the  spring  of 
1870  they  moved  to  a  little  home  on  Shaker  Hill  near  the  school  house: 
and  here  all  the  little  school  children  found  a  friend  in  Aunt  Mary.  In 
l'.xis  they  moved  to  Lebanon  to  spend  the  end  of  their  days  David  pass- 
ed away  iu  I  HI  2.  a  year  later  than  J.  ',)..  the  eldest  son.  Mary,  after  a 
short  illness,  passed  away  September  21.  1.H1G.  leaving  four  children, 
twenty  one  grand  children  and  four  great  grand  children. 

Sarena  Iv  married  William  Decker.     She  died  in  I8I>2. 

Harriet  -T  attended  the  Southwestern  Normal  school  nl  Lebanon.  ().. 
and  became  a  successful  teacher  in  Ohio  and  in  Illinois'  where  she  taught 
in  the  city  schools  for  several  years.   She  died  at  Decathr.  H-litiois.  in  1803. 

Aniiie  M.  was  a  sui';*essful  teacher  for  many  years,  and  now  lives  ;it 
Riverside.  ( 'alilornia 

Emma  K.  followed  the  dressmaking  business  for  a  number  <>l  years, 
and  now  lives  at  Harvey.  Illinois. 

Loriuda  F.  attended  the  Illinois  State  Normal  University  and  became 
a  teacher.   She  lives  at  Spokane,  Washington. 

Pauline  15  attended  the  Illinois  state  Normal  University  and  became 
a. teacher,  she  subsequently  took  up  the  dressmaking  business  with  suc- 
cess. She  married  Levi  P.  1 5ei  kstresser.  of  Ibida.  Illinois.  She  invented 
the  Berksl  resser  System  of  Dress  Cutting  and  other  systems  of  dress  c\^^ 
t i ii *r .  \U^v  office  rooms  for  many  years  were  in  the  Republic  building,  <  'hi 
cago.  Failing  in  health  she  tried  many  material  remedies  but  to  no  avail. 
In  despair  she.  ('-ailed  on  a  Christian  Science  praetion'eer  ami  was  healed 
wf  a  trouble  which  had  been  with  her  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  She 
then  took  up  the  study  of  Christian  Science  earnestly,  sold  her  dress-cut- 
tine,  business,  and  has  adopted  Christian  Science  practice  as  her  life  work. 
She  has  an  office  in  the- Orchestra  building  in  Chicago,  audi-.  First  Reader 
of  the  Christian  Science  society  at  Harvey.  Illinois.  Her  patients,  who 
have  received  benefits  through  her  understanding  of  Divine  Mind,  are 
numbered  by  the  hundreds. 

Annie  M  .  the  oldest  daughter  of  .lane  and  Maeaiah  Reeder,  married 
John  Pnuly.   They  raised  five  boys  and  two  girls,  all  who  have  passed  on. 

Milton,  the  oldest  boy.  was  a  successful  engineer  and  manufacturer 
of  lumber,  and  was  later  a  successful  merchant.  He  married  .Jennie  Hen- 
edict  and  had  one  son.  Dr.  Charles  A.  Pauley,  who  is  a  noted  physician 
and  sure-eon  at  Cincinnati,  Ohio. 


14— 


Dame!,  the  second  son,  was  a  man 'of  superior  talent  and  had  many 
vocations.  He  was  with  a  circus,  a  first  class  engineer,  a  manufacturer 
of  lumber,  and  a  steamboat  clerk  and  captain  on  the  Ohio.  Mississippi  and 
Missouri  rivers.  He  piloted  the  first  steam  boat  up  the  Missouri  rivei 
above  Kansas  City  in  the  days  when  they  dragged  logs  on  the  steamer 
decks  with  mules,  for  fuel  for  their  engines  Daniel  was  in  Kansas  during 
the  days  of  the  bord  )■  troubles,  and  when  the  War  of  the  Rebellion  broke 
out  he  was  one  of  the  first  to  volunteer.  He  soon  became  an  officer  and 
participated  in  a  number  of  battles.  He  fought  at  Bull  Hun.  and  here  is 
where  his  cool  ( lovvan  blood  assisted  him.  lie  was  one  of  the  last  to  leave 
the  field,  and  brought  his  men  off  in  good  order.  After  the  war  he  was 
engaged  in  the  detective  business  and  also  the  drug  business  and  other  vo- 
cations. He  married  Marianna  Booth.  They  had  one  son.  who  is  a  fine 
looking  man  six  ft-  three  inches.  He  has  been  with  the  National  Harves- 
ter Company  for  many  yeais.  He  had  charge  of  the  Foreign  Affairs,  was 
in  France  three  times,  was  there  when  the  war  broke  out.  Saw  the  tin- 
mans  pass  through  Belgium.  He  was  with  the  Foreign  Minister.  Said  it 
was  "crazy  Americans"  that  tried  to  sret  passports  home  when  the  war 
broke  out.  His  two  offices  there  were  turned  into  hospitals  Now  he  and 
another  man  are  interested  in  coal  mines,  some  thirteen,  in  Indiana  and 
Illinois.  He  has  an  office  in  Chicago,  is  vice  president.  He  is  married  but 
has  no  family. 

William,  the  third  son.  wasa  hotel  and  livery  man. 

Aaron  was  a  silversmith,      lie  died  at  the  age  of  twenty. 

George,  the  youngest,  had  many  vocations.  He  died  in  Warren  coun- 
ty. Ohio,  in  1917.  He  married  Clara  Frances  Cox  and  had  three  children. 
one  of  whom  died  in  infancy. 

Sarah  J.,  the  oldest  girl,  died  in  girlhood. 

Claudia,  the  youngest  dmghter.  married  Franklin  Baker,  who  was  an 
officer  in  the  War  of  the  Rebellion.  They  had  one  daughter.  Annie,  who 
married  William  Lacy. 

Sarah  IX  the  second  daughter  of  Jane  and  Macaiah  fieeder.  married 
William  John.  For  many  years  they  made  their  home  at  Liberty.  Indi- 
ana. Sarah  died  there  in  1861  and  was  buried  at  Crawfordsville.  Indiana, 
beside  her  father.  They  had  no  children  of  their  own.  but  they  raised 
quite  a  number  of  children  to  manhood  and  womanhood. 

Harriett,  the  youngest  daughter  of  June  and  Macaiah  Reeder.  died  at 
Lebanon.  <  >hio.  in  1s:>  l. 


/sr    —16— 

w — — 3^- 

I   I,  James  Cowan,  Sr.,  17  1.")  1828  wife  Mary  Russell.  1750-1820. 

1  2,  .lane  Cowan  Reeder  1778;  2-2  John  Cowan.  April  25,  1781.  Nov.  1,  7>:5. 

1st  wife  Mib.s  Sewell 
I-:?.  Robert,  age  61  years.  12  days,  died  September  I.  1863, 

wife  Rachel  Baldwin,  March  28,  1815.  December  26,  1907. 
1-4,  John  1.839-1915;  1st  wife  Mary  Abbott  L-5  Basil  deceased;  2 -5  Charles: 
.•5-5  John.  2nd  wife  Sarah  Moore.  2  1  Mary  Ellen.  Feb.  20.  1841,  May 
2:5,  1913,  wife  of  Benjamin  Swank.  Nov.  3,  1836.  January  15.  1912:  1-5  Rob 
ert  1860-18(57:  2-5  Ettie  May  1874-1894:  .'5  5  Blanche.  March  12.  1860.  Feb. 
17.  191*.  wife  of  R.  E.  Schleppy,  April  1.  1859:  1-6  Elija  Reed.  June  1  I.  July 
8.  1889:  2  6  Elsa  M.,  May  13,  1890.  wife  of  Claud    Broaders.    Jan.    21.    1*90: 

I  7  infant  son.  deceased:  3  6  Clara  Ellen.  May  27.  Sept  7.  IS93:  4-6  and  5  (i 
twin  boys.  Nov  26,  Nov  27.  [895;  6  6  infant:  -4-5  Rachel.  1862,  wife  of  I>.  R. 
Grenard;  1  6  Emerson,  wife  Minnie  Rogers:  1-7  Elnore-  2  7  Byron:  2  6 
Lloyd.  1st  wife  Lizzie  Miller:  !-7  Dorothy:  2nd  wife  Edith  Brown  1-7 
Ellen  Brown;  2  7  Helen;  ,'5  7  Lodema:  :!  I!  Edith,  wife  of  Homer  Coll':  17 
Barbara  Catherine;  4  6  Eva- 5-5  Ethelyn  1863,  Nov.  24.  1915,  wife  of  Dr. 
Olin:  1-6  Paul  Laverue  1895-1896:  2-6*  Marjorie  1896-189*:  3-6  Leon  Noel 
1901-1904:  4  6  Edua  Ray:  :"  6  Rein  1905,  Aug  22.  1916;  6-6  Lester,  wife  <>f 
Tessie  Patton:  1  7  hoy:  2-7  Paul:  7-6  Blanche,  wife  of  Scott  Cowan:  17 
Byron:  2-7  Marion:  3-7  Margaret  Ethtlyn;  8-6  Grace,  wife  of  Virgel  Mer- 
rott:  1-7  Oliu:  2-7  Russel  "Eugene.:  9-6  Leland.  wife  May  Harshbarger:  1  7 
Helen  Louise:   2-7  hoy:  I() -6  Leverett.    wife   Mary  Crowder:    17    Kenneth: 

II  6  Ruth;  6-5  P  E  Swank  I865,  wife  Emma  Moore:  1  6  Edith  wife  of  Ray 
Dajey:  17  Russell  Leon:  2  6  Oscar  wife  of  Mima  Alexander  1-7  Nellie 
7-5  Laura  1869,  wife  of  John  Haves;  1-6  Cecil  wife  of  Irl  Hank:  1-7  Herbert 
Allen,  Au^  23.  1918:2  6  Rilla  Ellen  wife  of  Edgar  Kimbrel:  1-J  Howard 
Hayes:  2  -7  Bryon  Grant:  3  6  in  army)  Richard  wife  Nona  Van  Cleave: 
1-7  Helen  Louise,  Feb  I.  1919:  J  6  Vera:  5-6  Russell:  6  ,;  Opal:  7-6  Robert: 
8-5  Jacob  Swank  1867.  wife  Bell  Patton:  1  0  Harold:  9-5  W.  1>.  S«'auk  1<Q71. 
1st  wife  Elfie  Caliom:  1-6  Pearl*  2-6  Argel:  3-6  fin  armjOAlonzo;  4-6  Margie; 
5-6  Frances:  6-6  Vernon:  7-<>  Helen.  2nd  wife  Minnie  Acord:  1  6  Mildred 
Zela  Wanetn.  deceased:  l"-5  Amanda.  July  U,  1872.  wife  of  Tipton  Glough. 
Hept.  17.  1866;  1-6  (in  army)  Glen.  July  19,1893.  wife  Mouton*  Sink  2-6 
Could.  Dec  7.  1898;  3-6  Garland.  Feb  21.  Don.  \  1;  Gilbert.  Dec  4.  1902:  3-4 
William,  wife  Lucinda  Yokum:  '-5  Henry:  2  5  John:  3-5  Dave:  J -5  Ben:  5-5 
Agnes:  I  1  Sarah  Ann  wife  of  Bisil  Riddle  I  •■"»  John;  2-5  Marion:  3-5 
Stephen,  wire  Anna  Eliza  Frye:  1-6  Minnie  Marie:  2-6  Basil  Silas:  3-1' 
Frank  Earl;  5-4  Charles  Alfred.  1 9 16.  wife  Laura  Harvey  1  :,  Olive  wife  of 
William  Dittriek:  1 -6 Charles  Ryan.  Sep!"  21.  1901;  2-6  Clarence.  Nov  8th- 
1915:2-5  Ethelyn  wife  of  Frank  Hiteshne;  1-6  Marjorid.  Aug  6,  1909:  2-6 
Earl  Bvshop.  Feb  I.  19H:  3-6  Laura  Maye.  Mar  .'5.  IfllS;  I  '"•  baby  1916;  3  5 
Albert,  wife-  :  1-6  Alfred:2-6 Normond;  :5  fi  Mabel;  4-6  Charles:  I  5  Hettie 
wife  of  Mi'.  Abbott;  16  Marie  May.  Oetober  29,  1912;  5-5  Anna  Elizabeth 
wife  of  George  Johnson;  1-6  Velma:  2-6  Bessie:  3-6  Goldie:  4-6  Liza:  5-6 
(Vane ;<'>.-,  Phebe  wife  of  Mr-  Holt;  1  -6  Bert.  2-6  Edna:  3-6  Joseph:  7:, 
Gorden  1892:  8-5  Frank  1898:  6-4  Amy  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Calvin  Seals:  '  -5 
Mrs.  Oakie  Cooper:  1-6  Russell;  2-6  Robert:  3-6  Leo:  1-6  Maxie;  2-5  Anna. 
1st  husband  John  Thomas:  1-6  Gilbert:  2-6  Lester.  2nd  husband  Daniel 
Valentine:  3-5  Bert  or  Bon:  1-5  George:  ."i-i   Dora    wife   of   Charles    Dwilla: 


—17— 

L-6  Dollie;  2-6  Joseph;  8-6  Chlore;  7-4  Elias  B,  age  2  yrs  1  month  and  20 
days,  July  22.  1830;  8-4  James  A-  age  7  years.  7  months,  Sept  3,  1853;  2-3 
Thomas  Cowan,  Dee  23,  1809,  July  16,  1873,  wife  Delila  MeFarland.  Nov 
U,  1821,  April').  1876;  l-l  Albert  Bruce.  Oefe  1.  1854,  Aug  3l,  1916;  3-3  James 
lst  wife  Lydia  — ;   14  Elizabeth  Ann  wife  of  Caswell  Endicott  (in  army); 

1  5  Edward:  2-5  Albert;  3-5  Phebe;  1  5  John:  2-4  (in  army)  Charles  Newton: 
3-4  Harriett  J»ne  wifeof  James  Shehi;  1-5— ;  2-5  ;  4-4  (in  army)  John 
Russell,  deceased:  5  4  Phebe  Charlotte  wife  of  James  Shannon:  6-4  James 
Miller.  1st  wife—,  2nd  wife  —  ;  1-:'.  David.  5-3  Polly  wife  of    Mr.    Hart;  6-3 

■girl;  2-2  John  Cowan  2nd  wife  Sarah  French,  birth  Feb  9,  1788,  death  Dec 
13.  185L:  1-3  Miller,  wife—;  2-3  Elizabeth,  Jan  1821,  age  35  years;  3-3  Moses. 
Sept  16,  1822.  April  29,  '9K),  wife  Sarah  Ann  Billings:  1-4  Mary  Elmira. 
March  4.  L848,  Nov  27.  1877.  wife  of   Stephen    Phlips:    1-5    Arthur,    infant; 

2  5  Phebe  Eliza,  1st  husband  Mr.  White.  1-6  Adaline;  2nd  husband  Alex 
Moir.  1  6  Martha.     2-4  E valine  A.,  Au«   5,    Is''1.   wife  of  John   McCurdy: 

1  5  Flora.  May  28.  I860,  wife  of  Isaac  H.  Home;  •''>  I  Icephena  D  .  Dec  2. 
1851.  wife  of  Edward  Cade;  1-5  Thomas  Henry,  wife  Francis:  L-6,  2-0.  :i  ,;. 
4-6,  deceased:  5  6  John  T.:  r>  6  Mary  F.:  2  5  Estella.  5  years:  3-5  Arthur  E.. 
wife  Cora  Seeley;  1-6  Vera;  2-6  Veima:  3-6  Ida  Ree:  '  •">  James  wife  Sadie 
Corbis;  1-6  Kuowlton;  2-6  Theodore;  3-6  .John.:  4-(5  Helen:  5-6  Marietta:  5-5 
Edith,  wife  of  Arthur  Davis:  1-6  deceased;  2-G  Marguerite^  0-6  John-  4-6 
Mabel;  5-6  Stella;  6-5  Mary,  wife  of  Reuben  Kirkham:  7-5  Ida.  wife  of 
John  Rudolph;  l-,;  Wanda:  II  Henry  11..  Feb  22.  bsM.  wife  Myra  Hill:  1-5 
Harry  Hill  wife  Irene  Woolley:  1  6  Delos:  2-6  Caroline;  3-6  Lorrene:  2  :. 
Claude  wife  Beulah  Bayne:  3-5  Nina;  1-5  Delia;  5  5  Hazel;  5-4  Luther,  Feb 
9,  1856.  June  12.  1908,  wife  Josephine  Reeher;  '■*>  Maude,  deceased,  wifeof 
Oscar  Vandivort:  1  '>  Maurice:  2-5  Mablewife  of  Harry  Elbrader:  1  6  adopt- 
ed Maurice  Vandivort:  fi-4  Eli*ha.  Nov  24.  1858.  Aug  13,  1859:7-4  Jesse 
Moses.  May  30,  I860,  wife  Jennie  O'Neill:  I-3  infant:.  2-5  infant;  3  '.infant: 
ir>  E-da  Lenore;  5-5  Guy  Leslie:  0  ">  Eredrick:  8  I  Ida  Rebecea.  Dec  12. 
18f52.  April  M.  1902.  wife  of  George  T  Fenn:  1  r<  Gertrude  Pearl.  1886- 
1902:  2  5  Elbridge.  infant:  3-5  and  1  -5  twins.  Frances.  Nov  IT.  1893.  March 
1.  1894;  Florence.  Nov  17.  1893.  wifeof  Emile  Lechieve:  1-6  Louisa:  9  4  Ada 
Cordelia.  Mar  16,  1865.  wife  of  Charles  Kendriek:  1-5  son.  1897:  4-3  Amy. 
Sept  24.  1823.  June  14.  1 90S.  wifeof    Luther    Watson:    1-4    Henry,    infant: 

2  -4  George,  wife  Grace  Warner:  1-5  Helen-.  2-5  Li  da:  3-5  Raymond:  4-5 
James:  3-4  Adam,  wife  Laura  Nelson:  1  5  Vesta:  4-4  Elten:  •"  3  Elmira. 
Sept  23.  1824.  Aug  1893,  wife  of  Parsons  Russoll:  1  I  William  Lloyd-  2-4 
Theodore  Parker.  IS'.C  wife  Bertha  Vogelesang:  '  ■*>  son:  2  ■>  daughter: 
6-3  William.  Dec  7.  1827.  Oct  7.  P'li. 


—IS—  

John  Cowan,  the  eldest  son  of  James  Cowan,  Si-.,  was  horn  April  25, 
178'.  and  died  Nov.  8,  185.3.  For  his  first  wife  he  married  Miss  Sewell.  To 
this  union  there  came  a  number  of  children. 

Robert,  the  eldest  son  of  John  Cowan  by  the  first  marriage.  Tie  was 
sixty-one  years  and  twelve  days  old  when  he  passed  away,  which  was  Sep- 
tember 21,  1863.  He  was  a  farmer,  was  a  strict  Presbyterian:  would  not 
even  allow  his  boys  to  whistle  or  play  on  Sunday.  He  married  Rachel 
Baldwin,  and  to  this  union  there  came  six  children,  three  sons  and  three 
daughters.  He  was  buried  in  the  Potts  cemetery.  His  wife,  Rachel,  was 
a  member  of  the  Liberty  Christian  church.  She  passed  away  December 
26,  1907,  and  is  at  rest  by  his  side  in  the  Potts  cemetery. 

Thomas,  born  Dec.  23,  1809,  died  July  16,  1873.  While  a  young  man 
he  went  west  with  his  father  He  could  not  agree  with  his  father's  sec 
ond  wife,  so  one  day  while  hauling  logs  ho  failed  to  return  home,  but 
went  to  Wisconsin  with  a  cousin  and  his  family.  After  living  there  for  a 
while  he  came  back  to  Ohio  and  ran  a  saw  mill.  He  had  two  wagons 
made  and  sent  one  to  his  father  which  was  supposed  to  replace  the  one  ho 
took  when  a  young  man.  lie  married  Delila  NcFarland.  daughter  of  Con- 
gressman Daniel  McFarlnnd.  and  to  this  union  there  came  one  son.  Albert 
Bruce  Cowan,  who  never  married;  departed  this  life  Aug.  31,  1916. 

James  was  married  twice  and  had  six  children  by  the  first  marriage. 
He  lived  in  the  west. 

David,  history  unknown. 

Polly,  history  unknown,  only  that  Aunt  Poll}-  married  a  Mr.  Hart 

Girl,  histor}'  unknown. 

John  Cowan  married  Sarah  French,  of  Springdale,  near  Cincinnati. 
for  his  second  wife.     To  this  union  there  came  a  number  of  children. 

Miller,  the  eldest  son  by  the  second  marriage,  married  and  lived  in 
Wisconsin;  had  no  family. 

Elizabeth,  born  1821.  died  single  at  the  age  of  about  thirty-five. 

Moses,  the  second  son  of  the  second  marriage,  was  born  Sept.  16,  1822 
and  died  April  29,  1910;  was  married  to  Sarah  Ann  Billings.  July  1,  1847. 
Nine  children  blessed  this  union:  all  living  to  have  families  of  their  own. 

Amy  was  born  Sept.  21.  182:1,.  died  Jan.  14,  1908,  married  Luther  Wat- 
son and  had  four  children 

Ebnira  was  born  Sept,  23,  1824:  died  Aug  1893;  married  Parsons  Rus- 
sell and  had  two  sons. 

William,  the  Youngest  child  of  the  second  marriage,  born  Dec.  1 , 
1827:  died  Oct.  7.  1844. 


/f  -20- 

11  .Tamos  Cowan,  Sr.,  1745-1828,  wife  Mary  Russell  1750-1820. 
1-2  Jane  (  owan  Reeder  1778;  2-2  John  Cowan  1781-1853;  3  2  Charles  Cowan 
Feb.  Kt,  1781,  Jan  10,  1850,  wife  Jane  White  MePherson  July  12,  1791,  Feb 
21.  187;?;  1-;}  JohnNewtou  Deo3,  1*10,  July  1,  1881,  1st  wife  Eleanor  Brad-  n 
died  in  35th  year,  1848;  1-4  Mary  Jane.  July  14,  1837.  Feb  1 1.  1*100,  wife  of 
John  Hill:  '-5  Twin  Eva,  July  14,  187;?.  1st  husband  Elmer  Mount:  1-6  Flor- 
ence 1895  Jan  11,  wife  of  Robert  Church  fin  army.)  2nd  husband  Walter 
Cory;  1-0  Robert  John  Sept  22.  1808,  Jnne  7.  I'.M  f:  2-6  Edward  Dec  21.  1901- 
3-6  Mary  Ellen.  Nov.'?.  P.i'H,  Mar  2.  1906:  4-6  Alexander,  Feb  27  1907-  5-6 
Paul  Allen,  Oct  21,  1909,  Dec  12,  1909;  1-5  Twin  Lizzie.  July  14,  1873,  wife 
of  Brazier  Brown;  1-6  Harvey  Newton,  .Tune  1.  1903;  2-6  Minnie  Florence 
Nov.  23,  1906-  2-4  Margaret  Ann,  Nov  21.  1839,  Feb  2\  1 1)16,  wife  of  James 
McCoy;  1-5  John  Stephen,  Kept  3,  1861,  wife-  :  1-6  William:  2  6  Sanford: 
3-6  Ralph;  4-6  Milo;  5-6  girl;  6-6 girl;  2-5  infant  daughter  Jan  28.  1864;  3-5 
E'len  A..  April  5  1865:  4-5  Ida  Jane,  Oct  5.  1867,  wife  of  Abe  Krause:  1-6 
(Gladys:  5-5  Charles  Franklin.  Oct  5,  1870.  wife  —  :  1-6  Harrv  Jennings  Mar 
11.  1897:  2-6  Mabel  Rebecca.  July  "13,  1899:3-6  Charles  Marvin.  Nov]!, 
1911:4  6  Thresa  Mary.  Jan  27.  1914:  6-5  Annie  L..  April  1",.  1873.  Jan  ?8 
1882;  7-5  Rosa  A.,  Jan  1.  1876.  Jan  6,  1879;  8-5  Mary  C.  June  13,  1879,. Tin 
26,  1832:  3-4  Charles  Samuel.  April  10.  1812.  May  19.  1913.  1st  wife  Louisa 
M.  Smith,  June  1,  l'8i)5:  1-5  Lottie  Ellen  l8Bf*-1869;2  r>Maretta  Janeor.lanie 
Oct  6,  1872;  3-5  Robert.  Sept  2.  1878.  wife  Florence  Spore;  1-6  Carl  Spore, 
deceased:  2-6  Twin  Charles  Robert.  1914:3-6  Twin  Raymond  Isaac.  1914; 
2nd  wife  Amanda  Steward;  1-3  John  Newton's  2nd  wife  Dor  thy  Gruenen- 
dyke,  Doc  \  1825,  Mar  28,  1857;. 1-4  Hannah  Caroline,  Jan  24.  1850,  March 
10,  1880,  wife  of  John  Zook;  1-5  Cora.  Feb  23,  lS~l,  wife  of  Bruce  Rose? 
1-6  Pearl.  Feb  22,  1897,  wife  of  Reed  Ramey;  1-7  Kathervn  Louise.  Dec  1, 
1916,  2-7  Ermal  Bruce.  Feb  20.  1918,  2-6  Paul.  0;;t  16.  1899;  2-5  Oscar  Z 
Feb  10,  1*78,  April  12,  1904.  wife  Pearle  Lofland  now  Mrs.  Alexander;  1-6 
John  Chase.  April  26.  1913:3-5  Harry  Z ..  Fob  17.  18*0,  July  I],  I90;,.  wife 
Florence  Young;  2-4  Peter  (jr.,  Oct  16,  1851,  wife  Elizabeth  Stout:  1-5  Eva, 
deceased;  2-5  Carrie  May,  Jan  27,  1881,  wife  of  Fred  Endean;  1-6  June;  2-<"; 
Merle:  3-5  Frank  L  .  Sept  26.  1S80,  Oct  23.  1 9 is,  wife  Lily  Wilhite;  '  6  Viv- 
ian; 2-6  Ralph  Wilson;  3 -6  Dallas,  deceased;  3  4  Jam?s  Newton.  July  29. 
1854,  April  19.  1891.  wife  Sarah  Quick:  1-5  Lena  Pearl.  Sept  9.  1-^81 ,  wffe  of 
Bert  Fuller;  1-6  Harold;  2-6  Paul:  3-'')  Garold  Newton.  Sept  1.  1917;  2-5 
Bessie  Mabel,  May  8,  I884.  wife  of  Fred  Brown:  3-5  Grace.  Aug  12.  1887; 
1-3  John  Newton's  3rd  wife  Rebecca  Ellen  Bratton.  Sept  9,  1823,  Dec  2:>. 
1913:  1-1  Adaline  Virginia,  Nov  3.  1861,  wire  of  Cheever  Orlease  Hill.  July 
9,  1859;  1-5  Ethel  Esther.  April  5,  1896.  adopted  daughter:  2-4  John  Bratton, 
May  2',  1863,  Mar  26.  I917.  wife  Mareraret  Elnora  Messmore.  Sept  :\.  1861. 
1-5  Lawrenc-  Soft:  Jan  2  ;,  1*86.  wife  Blanche  Olin:  l-,;  Byron:  2-6  Walter 
Marion :  3  6  Maraaret  Ethelyn ;  2-5  Walter  Harrison,  Oct  22.  1887.  wife 
Carrie  Sum ner.  Nov  2s.  191« :  3-5  Andrew  Merle  'in  armv)  June  20,  1890; 
4  5  John  Hubert.  Sept  2.r>,  1907:  2-3  William  H..  Aug  12.  1812.  Sej.t  5,  l^j,' 
1st  wife  Eliza  Potts.  Dec  25.  1813:  1-1  Sarah  Jane.  April  25,  18.37,  July  27, 
1896,  wife  of  Lindsay  McCoy,  ( >ct  2.  186«,  Mar  3,  1894;  1-5  William  1856.  wife 
Lucy  Jones:  1  o  May;  2.-5  George  R  ■  Oct  1 1,  ls':.8  I9i«,  wife  Mary  Thomas; 
1-6  Wanneta  Blanche,  Sept  14.  1886,  wife  of  J.  A.  Snyder:  1-7  Helen  Bernice 
19b).  2-7  Corwin  Smith,  1911,  3-7  Mary  Aljcan,  191.3:  3  5  Sarah  Eliza.  Aug 
28,  i860,  ist  husband  P.  H.  Plunkett;  1-6  Bertha,  Dec8,  1881,  wife  of  George 


•21 


Lannum;  1-7  Kathlan:  2-7  Helen;  2-6  Everett, Jan  31.  18.83,  wife  -  ;  1-7  Orres; 
2  7  Clela;  3-6  Ethel,  .Sept  23,  1885;  4-6  Bine  fin  array)  Mar  17,  1P9] ;  5-6  Lora 
(in  army)  Aug 24, 1896;  6-6  infant  daughter;  7-6  infant  son.  2nd  husband 
J.  C.  Layman;  15  Elizabeth  .McCoy,  Feb  16,  1S64.  wife  of  Stephen  Utter- 
back,  Oct  H,  186P,  1-6  Lester,  Jan  1 1.  1884,  wife  Elva  Jones:  2-6  Effie,  Feb 
8,  1888,  wife  of  Charles  Phillips;  1-7  Mary  Elizabeth  Phillips:  3-6  Marine. 
Septb),  1891;  4  6  Leva.  July  5,  1896,  wife  of  Avery  Merrill:  1-7  boy;  0-0  Dot- 
tie.  Au{?  31,  1899;  6-6  Raymond,  Oct  20,  19«>1,  deceased;  5-5  Alice  McCoy, 
Aug  24.  1865;  wife  of  Joseph  Faust:  1-6  Cecil  T..  Nov.  7.  1-S90,  Jan  25,  1906: 
2-6  triplets.  Mar  2'.  1896,  son  and  two  (laughters:  2  4  David.  .June  Pi,  1839, 
Dec  12,  188b  wife  Miranda  Jane  Williams.. April  7.  1839;  1-5  William  Edgar! 
Dec  25.  18oo,  wife  Ida  Elizabeth  Sanders;  Sept  9,  1872-  L-6  Ruth  Anna,  Aug 
13,  1896;  2  6  Fuhila  Sue,  June  5.  1899,  .l;\n  18,  1902;  3-6.  Nina  Marguerite, 
July  31,  '901;  4-6  Mary  Elizabeth,  April  25,  1904:  5-6  Laur?uee  Edgar.  Aug 
16,  1900;  6-6  Maurice  Delsworth.  April  25,  1911;  7-6  William  Nolan.  March 
5, 1914,  April  24,  1917;  2  5  Ellen  Delphena,  Jan  29.  1867,  wife  of  Harry 
Micheals;  3-5  George  Allen.  Dec  8,  1868,  wife  Grace  May  Vanscoy.  Dec  21, 
1881,  Feb  13.  1916-  1-0  David  Russell.  May  \  [900:2-6  Elmer  Lve.  May  10, 
1902;  3-6  Lelia  Faye.  March  6.  1904:  4-<">  Nora  Catherine,  April  1.  1918;  5  6 
Harry  Allen.  Jan  i.  1910;  6-6  Emma  Vanscoy.  Aug  28,  191.4:  1-5  Anim  Bell 
June  26.  1872.  wife  of  Charles  Harshharger;  1-6  Grover  in  army)  Aug  10. 
1802.  wife  Marie  Cope:  2  6  Lydia  Mae.  July  21.  '807.  wife  of  Leiand  <>lin: 
1-7  Helen  Louise:  2-7  boy;  3-6  Lloyd  A..  March  2.  1899;  4-6  Ralph  C.  Aprij 
10.  1906;  5  6  Ethel  M..  Feb  16,  1912;  5-5  Minnie  Josaphine,  Nov?.  1873  wife 
of  Guy  Widuer:  l-,;  Hazel  E..  Feb  13.  1897;  2-6  John  E  .  July  2D.  is1.)-!;  :?-»; 
Bethel  M.,  Sept  21).  IS'.)'.);  4  (!  Alice  C..  Dec.  25.  1901;5-6  Paul  J..  March  £). 
1904;  6-6  Mary,  1905;  7-6  Haro'd.  June  17,  1908:  3-4  James  Westlv.  March 
31,  1846,  wife  Mary  Elizabeth  Hendricks.  June  '2.  1849;  1-5  Theres  Nettie, 
May  9.  1882.  wife  of  Howard  Manuel,  March  15,  1878;  Hi  Dwight  C,  Dec 
28,  1902,  March  4.  1904;  2-6  Clarence  C.  Oct  10.  1005;  3-6  Faye  Elizabeth, 
Oct  2d,  1908;  4-6  Cletus  Loren,  Oct.  5.  1911;  5-6  James  L..  Feb  6.  1915;  II 
Twin  boys,  Feb  6,  1848;  Charles,  Feb'!.  1818.  Dec  21. 
Martha  Smelser:  1-5  Fave,  Jan  6.  1888,  June  30.  1908; 
1^78,  wife  of  Stephen  Beaver;  I  '»  Marion  C.  Nov  21. 

March  13,  1898,  :S-<;  Mabel  B.,  Sept  2''-.  1900;  2-3  William,  2nd  wife  Rebecca 
Jameson:  3  3  Mary.  Aug  8.  1 81 4,  July  19.  1883.  wife  of  John  Knox.  1809- 
1876;  1-4  Margaret  Jane  1839.  wife  of  James  Brown  ;  1-5  Jean- 

ette.  1*74,  wife  of  Prof.  Jos  Lyle:  1-6  Horace:  2  ,;  Darrell;  2-5  Twins  srirl; 
Orvil.  Feb  17.  Is-"?.  wife  (  ];ira  Seiker.  April  28.  lHSO;  1  ''-  Louis  Jame.s 
Brown.  Aug  19.  '916;  2  4  Martha.  1842.  wife  of  Dr.  Bush  Carle  J  'civil  wan 
1  5  Mary.  IK71-1S93,  wife  of  George  Bishop:  1-6  Lucy,  wife  of  Walter  Luti; 
1-7  boy:  2  ;">  Lulu,  wife  of  James  Scoff,;  1  (!  Jim  :!  I  Eva.  1*53.  wife  of  Boyd 
Forman;  1-5  Mary  Jane,  wife  of  Charles  (.)  Porter;  16  Ohma,  deceased; 
2-6  boy:  2  5  Wihna  Bell,  wife  of  Howard  Whitemore;  1-6  Lloyd:  2-6  Ro- 
berta:  3-6  child:  3  5  Georgia  Pearl,  wife  of  Cecil  Demme:  ]■<'<  child:  I! 
Charles  1845-1010;  4-3  Joseph.  Aug  It).  1816,  Feb  15,  1*63.  wife  Rebecca  Tod- 
hunter.  Jtily  11,  1818.  Jan  8,  1876:  1-4  Lrtcy,  April  26.  1849,  Jan  23,  4S72 ; 
2-4  Emma  MayFetta.  May  2.  'S5I.  April  1*1.  1855;  5  3  James  Hen  .  Aug  22. 
Hi!).  *ept  1-  1848,  wife  EUza  Williams:  1-1  Ann  Eliza-  April  21,  1*48.  wfie  of 
Smith  Mulford,  1840-1896;  1-5  Lester,  wife  Lizzie  Snook;  '-6   Eva;  2-6  Faye: 


1898:  William,  wife 
2-5  Luella.  Nov  11, 
1896;    2-C>    Mary    A.. 


22 

3  6  Smith;  2-5  Effie,  March  28,  1874,  May  14,  19 16,    wife  of  Samuel   Irons: 
i-6  Miriam,  wife  of  William  Suemening;  2-6  Julia,  wife  of  .lake  Baker;  1-7 
Robert  Oliu.  Jtilv  23,  1917;  3-6-Lee;  4-6  Irene;  3-5  Rollin,  wile  Lucile  Eliza- 
beth Laney;  6-3  Eliza  Ann.  Aug  8,  1821,  May  1890,   wife   of  James   Smith. 
18U-1891;  1-4  Amelia,  1S40,  deceased,  1st  husband  Rev.  Neff;   1-5  Lula,   de- 
ceased, wife  Mr.  McCormickl  '  6  hoy   2  6  boy:  3-6Dorthy;  2-5    Flora.    1866- 
1875;  2nd  husband  Daniel JSIcCellen:  2-4  Allie  1854  ls84,  wife  of  Simon  Stine 
Bassalier;  1-5  Raymond,  wife  Uara;  1  6  boy   Robert:   2-5   Bert,   deceased. 
Vancouver,  wife"-:  1-6  girl;  2-6  boy;  3-6  boy:  3-5  Emma  Florence,  deceased: 
4-5  Bess    government  work    Washington:  3-4    Joseph.    1845-1916:  1st    wife 
Mary  Noise;  2nd  wife  Mattie  Noise:  I  4  Albert    1848  1854:7-3   Sarah   Ellen. 
July  1    1825,  July  16,  1896,  wife  of  William  Harrison   Downey.  Oct  6,  1816, 
April  25.  1894;  1-4  Alice  Jane,  1846-1848;  2-4  boy.  J*'?:    3-4  Laur  i    Dejphina, 
Nov  4~l's40.  wife  of  Mosley  Brooks  (civil  war)  1-5    Minnie  Dell.  !*"(>,  wife 
of  George  Alfred  Lwonev,  1863;  1-6  Dell  Bernice.  1894-18%;  2  (J  Don  Brooks 
1806;  2-5  Cora  Deane,  1871-1905.  wife  of  John  Titsworth;  1-6  Russell  Brooks 
lH07(in  army):  2  6  Gladys  hs<)8:  3-6  Harold  19"3:   3-5    Harry   Downey    1*73, 
wife  Elsie  Holo well:  4-5  Edith   Ellen,    1*75,    wife  of  Dempsey  Norris;   1-6 
Thelma,   1902;  2  6  Frieda  1903;  3-6  Harry  Brooks.    1905:    5-5    Ida   Florence, 
1878-1897-6  5   Moray    Chester.    1880-1881;    7  5    William    Mosley.    1884.    wife 
Maxie  M.  Griffin;  1-6  William   Mosley.    1912;    2  6    Harriett   Jane,    1914;    3-6 
Howard  Edward;8-5  Leslie  Raymond.  1887;  wife  Jessie   Winslip:  l-(i    Rob- 
ert Kennedy  1908-1912;  2  6  John  Russell,   1909;  3-6   Joy   Louise,    1913-1914? 
9-5  Sydney  Monroe.  1888-1912;  K>-5  Robert  infant  18«ll;  4  4  Florence  Adelia. 
Oct ;  18    1851    wile  of  Charles  Hcnrv  Lyons:  l-~>  Elsie  Florence    1^1.    wife  of 
Frank  Huber.;  1-6  Eva  Pauline.  1900;  2-6  Hay  Carrol.  1904:    3-6   Marguerite. 
1907;  2-5  Bertha  Nell  1883.  2nd  wife  of   John  Titsworth:    1-6    Russell.   '2-^ 
Gladys,  3-6  Harold,  step  children; 3-5  Clarence    Blaine    1887  (in  army':  5-4 
Eva  Gertrude,  June  26.  18-53.    wife   of    Harrison    Smith   Carney,    Aug    18, 
1838  (,.jvil  war);  1-5  Harriet  Ellen.  Jan  27.  1880.  wife  of  Orville  R.  Zimmer, 
Jan  hi,  1880:  2-5  Charles  Garfield.   July    26.    1881,   wife   Orace   Wilson;  1-6 
DwightWeldon   Jan  26,  1904;  2 -6  Florence  Gertrude,    Nov   26.    1905:   3-6, 
Harrison  Smith,  jr..  April  22.  1912;  3-5  Zora  Martha,  Sept  23.  1891:6-4  Alma 
Zelaide    March  30,  1855,  1st,  husband   Benjamin    Hunt:    1  5   Harry   Clyde, 
1878-1907      2nd  husband  William  R,  Hunt   in  army-;  1-5    William    Robin- 
son   1891    wife  Miriam  Grindle:  1  6  Dorthy  Dean,   1913:7-4    Thomas  Jeff- 
erson   Jan  5.  1857,  wife  Alice  Wellman:  1-5   Stella.    I880.    wife   of    Ernest 
Ooffield:  8  4  Zora  Leofa.  Aug  21.  1*59.  March  18.  1901:9-4  Charles  Ormsby. 
Nov    14    1862.  April  28.  1885;  8-3  Charles  Russell.  April  5.  1827.   March  20. 
I875   wife  Judah  Hall,  March  9.  1831.  -July  15.  1*99;  I  4  Mary  Melissa.  Nov 
13    l s r,  1    Feb  20.  1877:2-4  Marilla  Jane,  Sept   23,    1853.    wife    of    John    C 
Blin    May  17,  1853:1-5    Edna   M..    Match    3.1886.    wife  of  Charles    Beck, 
April '>''"  1885  •  1-6  Curtis  Blin.  Sept,  lit  1 3:  2-6  Helen    Berniee.   Oct   4.    F.ibr 
2-5  Elva  May   June  16,  18S8.  wife  of  Charles  Allen.  May  2'.),  1885;  1-6  Evelyn 
Jean    infant   Dec  H,  1915;  3-4  Anna  Loretta.    1856-186!;    II    Minnie    Alice. 
Sept  H    1861    wife  of  James  A.  Sellers,  Nov  30.  1852;  1  -5  Charles  Raymond 
Sept  19    '8S7   wife  Helen  I.  Earnhart,  June  6.  18<>>:  2-5  Eldred  J.,    Dee    22, 


—23— 

I8'.)(),  (in  army;;  3  5  Julia  E.,  April  20,  ISO:1.;  S  1  Carrie  Elvia,  Nov  12,  1865, 
May  4,  1899,  1st  wife  of  Peter  Miller;  9-3David  Rice,  Jan  1(5,  1829,  July 
31,  1887,  wife  Amy  Thompson,  Dec  11.  1829,  May  17.  1910:  It  baby;  2*1 
Ida  May,  Sept  2'.),  1864,  March  19,  l9J6;  3-4  Harry  Elmer,  June  8,  1*70*,  wife 
Lida  Keever,  June  18,  1870 ;  l-r>  David  Elmer,  Dec  18,  1894;  2-5  Marian 
Keever,  March  26,  1896;  3-5  Amy  Rhoda,  May  16,  1899;  4-5  Harriet.  Ellen, 
Aug  21.  1905. 

Charles  R  was  the  second  son  and  third  child  of  James  Cowan,  sr., 
and  Mary  Russell  Cowan,  born  Feb.  10,  1784,  and  died  Jan.  16,  1850.  He 
married  Jane  White  McPherson,  and  to  this  union  there  came  nine  chil- 
dren. 

John  Newton,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  Dec.  3,  18l0,  and  died  July  1, 
1881.  He  was  married  thre"e  times;  July  28.  1836,  was  united  to  Ellen 
Braden;  to  this  union  two  daughters  and  a  son  came. all  living  to  rear  fam- 
ilies of  their  own.  On  Jan  25,  1848,  his  wife  died.  After  waiting  a  year 
he  married  Dorthy  (xro  mendyke.  and  to  this  second  marriage  there  came 
a  daughter  and  two  sons.  All  lived  to  rear  families  of  their  own.  <  >n 
March  28.  1857,  the  second  wife  passed  a  way,  and  after  waiting  about  .'! 
years  he  married  for  the  third  and  last  time  Rebecca  Bratton.  A  son  and 
daughter  blessed  this  union. 

William  was  born  Augf.  12,  1812,  died  Sept.  5,  lSv-'l;  was  marri  >d  twice. 
On  May  19,  Is"'',,  to  Eliza  Potts;  four  sons  and  a  daughter  came  to  this 
home.  All  lived  to  rear  families  of  their  own.  There  was  no  family  by  the 
second  marriage  with  Rebecca  Jameson 

Mary,  the  eldest  daughter  of  Charles  and  Jane  White  McPherson 
Cowan,  born  Aug.  8,  1H4.  died  July  19.  lsH:;:  was  married  to  John  Knox, 
Dec.  8,  1836;  three  daughters  and  a  son  gladdened  this  home. 

Joseph,  the  third  son.  was  born  Aug.  l<>,  lsb'».  and  died  Feb.  15.  1863: 
was  a  cabinet  maker  by  trade;  married  Rebecca  Todhunter  on  dan. 2.  1839; 
two  daughters  came  to  this  hone.  Knrc.a  Mayretta.  who  lived  only  about 
a  year,  and  Lucy,  who  died  when  in  the  early  twenties. 

James  Hew.  the  fourth  son.  was  born  Aug.  1S19.  and  died  Sept.  7.  '48. 
He  wa.H  united  in  marriage  to  Eliza  Williams  and  in  I848  a  daughter.  Ann 
Eliza,  came  to  cheer  them. 

Eliza  Ann,  the  second  daughter,  born  Aug.  8,  1821, and  died  May  18<)0; 
on  Oct.  12.  1812,  she  married  James  Smith,  and  two  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters eame  to  this  home. 

Sarah  Ellen,  the  third  daughter,  was  born  July  I,  1825,  near  Lebanon, 
Ohio,  on  the  old  homestead,  and  died  July  16,  l89fi,  near  New  Salem.  Rush 
county,  Indiana.,  was  united  iu  marriage  to  William  Harrison  Downey. 
Aug-  13,  1845.  Mr.  Downey  was  born  in  Virginia  near  Woodstock,  Shan - 
audoak  county,  Oct.  ,;.  1816,  and  died  near  New  Salem,  hid  .  April  25,  "94. 
They  spent  the  first  few  years  of  their  married  life  in  and  near  Lebanon. 
Ohio-  About  1850  they  emigrated  to  Indiana  and  settled  near  New  Salem, 
where  they  continued  to  live  the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were  very 
successful  and  at  their  death  they  had  brought  about  500  acres  of  land  in 
Rush  county.  To  this  union  there  came  nine  children,  the  three  eldest 
were  born  near  Lebanon.  Ohio,  and  the  other  six  near  New  Salem.  Ind. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Downey  and  their  descendants  are  members  of  the  Christian 
(Disciple)  church. 

Charles  Russell,  the  eighth  child  of  Charles  and  Jane  White   McPher- 


—24— 

son  Cowan,  born  April  5,  1827,  died  March  20,  I87f>.  By  the  father's  will 
the  two  younger  boys  Charles  and  Da \-id,  were  to  earei'or  their  mother 
her  lifetime.  Charles  married  Jndah  Hall,  daughter  of  John  W  and  M:n- 
illa  Eddy  Hall.  March  7.  1850.  They  lived  on  the  homestead  till  Is.V.  u  |,cn 
he  bought  a  farm  nearby.  Five  daughters  blessed  this  home.  Two  died  in 
youth.  Three  married,  but  only  two  lived  and  reared  families  of  their  own. 
David  Rice,  the  youngest  child,  was  born  .Ian.  10,  1820,  on  the  old 
homestead,  and  there  lived  all  his  life  Died  in  'ST.  By  his  father's  request 
he  and  his  brother  Charles  were  to eare  for  the  mother  her  lifetime  In 
1^)6  he  married  Amy  A.  Thompson,  daughter  of  John  If.  Thompson.  An 
infant,  a  daughter  and  a  son  came  to  this  home,  the  daughter  devoting 
her  life  to  her  parents;  passed  away  in  1  ill n.  the  son  being  the  only  one 
left  of  that  family.  He  lives  on  the  old  homestead  which  was  bought  Dee. 
10.  1800,  and  was  a  part  of  the  threat  Miami  Purchase. 


2s\^Xtz. 

1-1  James  Cowan,  Sr..  1745-1828  Dec  21,  wife  Mary  Russell  1750-1820- 
1-2  Jane  Cowan  Reeder  1778:  2  2  John  Cowan  1781-1853:  3-2  Charles  Cowan 
1784-1850;  4-2  James  Cowan.  Jr..  Oct  18.  1787,  Feb  25,  1873  1st  wife  Marv 
French.  1702-1820:  1  3  Aaron  K.  1821-1867.  1st  wife  Elviria  Hart-  1-1  Mary 
Eliza,  deceased,  wife  of  Stephen  McGregge;  2  4  Elviaral.  wife' of  James 
Durham;  1-5  child,  deceased;  2-5  child,  decease!?;  2nd  wife  Sarah  Cri<=t-  ]  1 
Ellen  wife  of  Mr.  Whittington:  1-5  hoy:  2-5  Josie;  3.-5  girl:  2-4  Clara  1 'n; 
wife  of  R.  H.  Hodgkin;  1-5  hoy:  2-5  Ethel  wife  of  Andv  Stilwe]].  1  6  Frieda 
2-6  Robert;  3-6  Margaret:  4-0  BurrHl:  3-5  Jessie  Maude  1*83-1917  wife  of 
Roy  Deere  *  cousins:  1-6  Fern;2-6  Everette;  3-6  Jan  ire;  1  6  Earl  deceased- 
5-6  Dorthy;6-6  Francis;  7-6  Leroy;4-5  Nellie,  wife  of  Irvin  Deere  •  cousins- 
1-6  Josephine:  2-6  Helen:  5-5  Mary  wife  of  William  Burgess-  6-5  Robert 
Earl,  wife—  7-5  Nelia  wife  of  Mr.  Wheat:  8-5  Rnth  Hod-kin:  3-4  Florence : 
4-4  George  Mead  wife  Jessie  Kritz;  2-3  George  W  1315-183.7;  H  •]  Ralnh  E 
1817-1838:  1-3  Eliza  Jane,  S({,t  20.  1819,  Oct  17.  1837,  wife  of  William  Harh 
1-4  Twins,  Allen- Batcie.  infant;  Mary,  wife  of  John  Israel:  1-5  Pearler' 
2-5  Ellen;  3-4  Frankie  or  Frances,  wife  of  Charles  Means:  l  1  Anna  Eliza 
wife  of  Hamilin  Monieal;  1-5  Fred;  5-4  Aletha,  wife  of  Moses  Israel"  1-5 
James:  2-5  Earl:  3-5  Clem:  4 -5  Zota;  0-4  John  infant;  7  1  William  Bart 
wife  Eliza  Wathan;  1  5  James;  2  5  Cora;  3-5  Carrie;  4-5  Clin  ton;  5  i  Albert: 
6-5  Minnie;  84  Lucy,  wife  of  Anda  Morrison;  9-4 -James,  infant-  lG-4 
Hattie.  wife  of  John  Alexander:  1-5  Ada;  2-5  Clyde;  3-5  Mertle-  4-5  Lew- 
5  3  Allen  Battie,  1827-184.5;  1;  3  twins,  deceased.  James,  Mary;  4-9  James' 
Jr..  2nd  wife  Lydia  Mix.  1802-1802;  1  3  James  Milton.  1*31,  Nov  21  1859 
wife  Armindal  Earhart:  11  Eva,  Dec  18,  1854.  2nd  wife  of  Oscar  Rpever- 
2-1  Georgia,  hoy.  IS56:  3-1  Howard  Ellis.  Fel>  l,  1858,  1st,  wife  Ella  Ha<*-er- 
man,  2nd  wife  Lizzie  Keever  Cox:  4  4  James   Albert,    Sojit   3     1859     wifr 


band  Amos  Benrett.  2nd  husband  Francis  Jefferies;  3  3  Mary  Frances 
1834,  Oct  31.  1863;  1-3  Sarah Drusilla.  1837.  June  16  lf>17:  5  3  Charles  Russ' 
ell.  Dec  11.  1840.  Jan  9,  1919;  6-3  Alfred.  2.0  months,  18  43-1*45. 

James  Cowan.  Jr..  was  horn  Oct   18,  1787.     near  Harper's  Ferry     Va 
He  came  to  Ohio  with  his  father  in  1800.   In  1814  he  married  Mary  French 
for  his  first  wife;  seven  children  blessed  this  union. 

Aaron  K..  the  eldest  son.  was  horn  in  the  year  of  1821  and  died  in  the 
year  of  1*67.   He  married  for  his  first  wife  Elviria  Hart  in    1*41.    and    had 
two  daughters.     He  married  for  his  second  wife  Sarah  Crist.     There  were 
three  daughters  and  a  sou  by  this  marriage.     Aaron  died  near  Waveland 
Indiana. 

George  W.  and  Ralph  E.  went  South  when  young  men.  to  sec  the 
country.  They  sickened  and  died  while  in  Mississippi. 

Eliza  Jane,  the  eldest  daughter,  was  born  in  1819  and  died  in  1837,  age 
6S  years  27  days.  She  married  William  Hart,  and  to  this  union  there  came 
ten  childr-n. 

Allen  Battie,  horn  in  1827.  died  in  1*45. 

Twins,  deceased,  James.  Mary. 


James,  Jr.,  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mary  French,  in  1820.  be- 
came acquainted  with  Lydia  Mix,  formerly  of  Vermont,  having  came  to 
( >hio  to  keep  house  for  her  brother  George  Mix  and  to  care  for  his  three 
children.  In  1830  she  married  James  Cowan,  Jr-.  and  six  children  blessed 
this  home. 

James  Milton,  the  eldest  son.  born  in  18:'>1  and  died  in  1859.  He  mar- 
ried Armindal  Earhart.  He  died  when  a  young  man.  leaving  a  widow  and 
four  little  children. 

Ann  Mirah,  second  child  of  the  second  marriage,  born  in  1833  and  died 
in  l'.Mw:  was  married  to  Amos  Bennett  for  the  first  time  and  to  Frances 
Jeff'eries  for  the  second  time. 

Mary  Frances,  daughter  of  -Tames.  Jr.,  and  Lydia  Mix  Cowan,  was 
born  in  1834  and  died  in  18<>.'5. 

Sarah  Drusilla,  youngest  daughter  of  James.  Jr.,  and  Lydia  Mix 
Cowan,  died  June  16,  1917.  The  date  of  her  birth  is  unknown. as  she  would 
never  tell  what  the  year  was.  the  nearest  she  ever  disclosed  it  was  to  the 
author  of  this  book,  the  year  before  .she  died.  She  was  relating  of  olden 
times.  This  particular  instance  was  how  the  cousins  use  to  visit  back 
and  forth  from  the  different  States.  That  they  would  think  nothing  of 
hitching  two  horses  to  a  wagon,  loading  in  the  family  and  coming  from 
Indiana  to  Ohio  on  a  visit.  She  to'd  how  she.  her  brothers  and  sisters 
would  play  with  John  Newton's  children  and  she  ended  by  saying  '"And 
I  was  older  than  Mary  Jane  " 

[How  old  was  Sarah  Drusilli?  Mary  Jane  was  born  July  14,  18.'?7. 
and  died  Feb.  4.  1900.] 

Charles, Russell,  son  of  James.  Jr.,  and  Lydia  Mix  Cowan,  born  Dec. 
It,  1810,  and  died  Jan.  '.'.  1919.  He  did  his  war  duty  by  caring  for  his 
oared  parents  and  tilling  of  the  soil.  He  wasan  upright  man  in  every  ie- 
spect:  was  the  las*  of  the  third  generation  of  James  Cowan,  Senior. 


—28— 

1-1  James  Cowan.  Senior,  1745-1828,  wife  Mary  Russell  1750-1820; 
1-2  Jane  Cowan  Reeder  1778;  2  2  John  Cowan  1781-1853;  '5-2  Charles  Cowan 
1784-1850;  4-2  James  Cowan.  Jr..  1787-1*73;  5  2  William  (  owan  1791-1824, 
wife  Rebecca  Whitehill,  Oct  21,  1  TOO,  April  13,  1838:  1-3  Mary  Ann.  Aug 
10,  ls2.-.,  Kept  18,  1888,  wife  of  Judge  James  Goode.  Jan  1822,  April  1801; 
1-4  Jane  Whitehill.  March  21, 1850,  July  2:i,  1851;  2-4  Elizabeth,  Aug  7, 
1851.  April  24,  1804 :  3-4  Frank  Cowan,  Sept  12,  1853.  Nov.  23,  18*7,  wife 
Jane  McKnighfe;  1-5  Edith  Jeannette.  Nov  13,  1882:  14  Alice  Rogers,  Kept 
16,  1855,  wife  of  Edward  Benedict  Cobb;  5-4  Mary  Poague,  Aug  18,  I860, 
wife  of  John  B.  Baskin;  1-5  Bur  well  Goode,  Sept  2,  Sept  lr>.  's8i;  2-Ti 
infant;  3-5  Elsie  Ratledge,  Dec  23,  1887,  wife  of  Huntington  Adams:  0-4 
twins,  James  Burwell  Goode,  July  28,  1864,  April  26,  1<%7;  Edith  Smith 
Goode,  July  28, 1804,  Septll,  lH^r, . 

William  Cowan  was  the  youngest  child  of  James,  Sr.,  and  Mary 
Russell  Cowan;  born  1791  in  Berkley  county,  Virginia,  near  Harper's 
Ferry.  When  a  child,  he  came  to  Ohio  with  his  parents.  He  married  Re- 
becca Whitehill.  Nov.  0.    1824. 

Rebecca  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  Oct.  21,  179G. 
She  came  to  Warren  county,  Ohio,  with  her  brothers  and  sisters  in  1815. 
They  lived  near  where  James  ('owan,  Sr.,  settled.  She  died  April  13, 
133s.  William  Cowan  receiving  lands  from  his  father  in  Greene  county, 
there  he  settled.  He  died  April  28.  1V.">1,  leaving  one  child,  Mary  Ann 
Cowan,  known  in  G.  Brown  Goode's  "Virginia  Cousins"  as  ''Elizabeth." 

Mary  Ann  married  James  S.  Goode,  Nov.  1848.  Of  this  branch  of  the 
James  Cowan.  Sr.,  f amity  there  only  remains  four  living  descendants. 


Xf     —30— 

SOLDIERS 

REVOLUTIONARY   WAR 
James  Cowan,  Sr.,  was  in  the  militia  during  thi8   war;  was  at  York-; 
town  when  Cornwallis'  surrenderor!.     He  dug  trenches   at    night.    They 
were  dug  at  right  angles  in  front  of  the  enemy. 

WAR  OF  1812 

1.  James  Cowan.  Jr..  volunteered  to  help  defend  our  northern  front- 
ier from  Indian  depredations  when  the  surrender  of  General  Hull  had  un-i 
expectedly  deprived  us  of  our  army.  In  November  of  1812  while  on  the] 
hanks  of  the  Auglaize  some  twelve  miles  from  Defiance,  a  comrade  and; 
near  neighbor.  Eleazer  Lamson,  was  severely  wounded,  and  though  their 
time  had  nearly  expired,  Cowan  and  Ben  H.  Spinning,  another  neighbor 
in  the  same  county,  agreed  to  stay  and  nurse  Lamson.  He  died  about 
Christmas,  and  he  was  the  only  one  in  that  war  from  this  immediate 
neighborhood. 

2.  Macaiah  Reeder  was  among  the  first  to  volunteer. 

CIVIL  WAR 

3.  John  H.  Reeder  died  in  the  war  of  the  Rebellion  at  Nashville. 
Tennesse.  in  1864. 

4.  Joseph  H.  Reeder  fell  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson,  and  died  the  next  morning.  He  was  a  member  of  the  11  th  In- 
diana Zouaves  commanded  by  Colonel  or  General  Lewis  Wallace,  the  au- 
thor of  ''Ben  Hut." 

5.  Allen  B    Reeder  served  four  months  in  the  14(ith  Ohio  Infantry. 
(?.     Caleb  T.  Reeder  served  four  months  in  the  1 4(3  th  Ohio   Infantry. 

7.  Allen  B.  Reeder  again  volunteered  in  the  183rd  Ohio  Volunteer 
Infantry:  was  a  non-commissioned  officer;  in  battles  in  Tennessee  in  1804. 
Took  the  fever,  died,  and  was  buried  at  Louisville.  Kentucky. 

8.  James  C.  Reeder,  a  noncommissioned  officer  in  the  183rd  Ohio 
Volunteer  Infantry. 

0.  Joseph  W.  Cowan,  captain  of  old  militia.  1st  company  1st  Heg., 
2nd  Brigade,  l'.l  Division. 

10.  James  H.  Cowan,  a  private  in  1st  CO.,  'st  Kep  .  2nd  Brig.    '!)  Div 

11.  Charles  R  Cowan  was  appointed  captain  of  company  I,  4th  rep. 
Ohio  men  in  Warren  county;  was  stationed  at  the  training  camp,  Camp 
Denison,  July  11,  ISC;}. 

12.  Franklin  Baker,  lieutenant  in  the  quartermaster's  department 
co.  F.  12  reg.  Ohio  men. 

13.  David   Mulford,  co.  K.  16  Knn.  Volunteer  Infantry.  3  years. 

14.  Daniel  Pauly.  captain,  wounded  at  Antetum,  co.  C,  12  regiment 
Ohio  men. 

15.  Charles  Cowan,  of  Oquawka.  111.,  volunteered  at  tbe  beginning 
of  the  war  for  three  years;  was  slightly  wounded  while  in  battle:  was  a 
member  of  10th  reg.,  co.  E-  When  time  expired  re-enlisted  for  another 
three  years. 

16.  John  Cowan,  of  Oquawka.  Ill  ,  at  the  beginning  of  war,  volun- 
teered for  three  years,  and  when  that  time  expired  he  re-enlisted  for  an- 
other three  years:  was  a  member  of  10  reg..  co.  E. 

17.  Caswell  Eudicott,  a  brother  in-law,  was  also  in  the  war. 

18.  Robert  Cowan's  son  was  in  this  war. 


I —31—   

19.  William  M.Brooks.  2nd  Lieut,  cd   I.  54th  reg.,  Indiana  volunteers. 

20.  Harrisons.  Carney,  2nd  Lieut.,  co.  I.  .r)2nd  reg.  Indiana  Volun- 
teers, Received  his  commission  in  1862,  and  seven  days  after  was  placed 
in  command  of  his  company. 

21.  William  R.  Hunt,  1st  Lieut... co.  K,  37th  reg.  Indiana  volunteers. 

22.  Dr.  Rush  "Carley,  enlisted  with  the  3  year  men,  and  was  in  the 
16th  regiment.  Later  was  transferred  to  company  F  140th  regiment,  and 
was  assistant  surgeon. 

WORLD'S  WAR 

I.     Rudolph  Ret-der.  American  Red  Cross  commissioner  in  France 

2  2nd  Lieut.  Rudolph  Rex  Reeder:  teacher  at  the  Saumer  artillery 
»  school  in  France. 

3.  Lieut.  Andrew  M.  Cowan,  enlisted  January  7,  1918*  at  Indianap- 
olis, Indiana:  entered  Ground  school.  Ohio  State  University  at  Columbus, 
Ohio,  May  18.  1918,  graduated  August  K),  1918.  Transferred  to  the  Avia- 
tion concentration  ca?np.  at  camp  Dick.  Dallas.  Texas,  Aug.  17.  1918: 
transferred  to  the  flying  school,  Kelly  Field,  San  Antonio,  Texas.  Octo- 
ber 4.  191S;  completed  R.  M.  A.  course  March  11.  1919;  commissioned  as 
reserve  military  aviator  March  11,  1919  (inactive.)  Discharged  March  2<>, 
1919. 

4  Russel  Titsworth  enlisted  June  is.  1918,  in  the  naval  reserves, 
co.  I  regiment  I,  camp  Dewey,  Great  Lakes  training  station. 

5.  2nd  Lieut,  of  Infantry  Richard  E  Hayes  enlisted  April  2.  1917,  at 
Crawfordsville,  Indiana,  in  company  C.  a  national  guard  unit  of  the  old 
second  Indiana  Infantry,  known  later  as  the  I52d  Infantry;  \v;is  ordered 
to  Gary,  Ind.,  to  guard  the  Aetna  powder  works  just  easr  of  Gary.  After 
spending  several  months  there  was  ordered  to  Jefferson ville,  Ind.,  Aug.  4. 
1917,  for  mobilization  of  an  entire  regiment.  After  two  months  there  was 
ordered  to  camp  Shelby.  Hattiesburg.  Mississippi.  Oct.  14,  1917.  then  was 
sent  to  an  officers'  training  school  at  camp  Gordo;),  Atlanta.  Georgia.  July 
19.  1918.  where  the  work  was  completed;  received  commission  as  2nd 
lieutenant  of  the  Infantry  Oct.  L">.  1918.  and  then  was  transferred  to  camp 
Sherman.  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  Oct.  17,  1918,  and  there  remained  till  the 
close  of  the  war;  was  discharged  Dec  14.  1918,  which  separated  Richard 
and  Uncle  Sam  in  their  army  life.  Although  never  having  an  opportun- 
ity to  go  overseas,  he  can  proudly  say  that  he  did  as  much  here  in  U.  S. 
training  men  as  "over  there." 

C).     Hugh  P.  Mulford.  co.  M.  O  O   T.  I.  Camp  MeArfhur,  Texas 

7.  Sergeant  Elmer  Wilis  enlisted  April  .'..  1917,  in  the  first  enlistment 
with  co.  E  1st  Ohio  Infantry  from  Aprils,  1917,  to  October  27.  1917.  Then 
was  changed  to  co.  E  147  Infantry.  October  27.  1917.  to  April  19,  1919;  was 
made  sergeant  May  15,  1918.  Left  U.  S.  June  l">,  1918;  was  in  the  follow- 
ing battles  at  the  front:  Meuse  Argonne.  Ypres-Lys  1st.  Ypres-Lys  2nd. 
Gassed  September  28.  1918-  received  a  French  cross  for  bravery  at  Mense 
Argonne.  the  Croix  DeGuerre,  reeeived  the  gold  star,  or  the  eorp  sisrhta- 
tion,  on  the  night  before  the  armistice  was  signed  Nov.  In,  I'.llS.  for  brav- 
ery during  the  building  of  a  bridge  abross  the  Escaut  river:  was  held  in 
reserve  in  the  battles  of  St.  Miabeland  Lorrain  Arrived  in  the  United 
States,  March  22.  1919.  and  was  discharged  from  the   army  April  19,  1919. 

8.  2nd  Lieut.  Clarence  Blaine  Lyons  of  the  Ordnance  Department, 
camouflage  section.      Had  eight  months  service  in    France:    was  stationed 


—32— 

for  six  months  at  Mehun  Yer  Serve. 

9.  Corporal  Eldred  J.  Sellers  entered  the   service  Sept.    20,    1917,   at 
Camp  Custer,  Battle  Creek,  Michigan.     When  the    call   came   for   volun- 
teers to  go  to  the  woods  in  the  Northwest,  Nov.    27.  1917.    he  was   amongj 
the  first  to  sign  up,  as  he  thought  he  could  l>c  of  more  service   to    Uncle  ! 
Sam  in    the  Spruce    woods   helping  to  get    the  lumber  for    ships  and    air  ! 
planes;  was  in  102  squadron  Spruce  Production    Division   bureau   aircraft 
production  at  Powers.  Oregon;  was  made  corporal.      He  was  to   go  across 
the  sea  the  first  of  January  had  not  the    armistice  been   Bigned   Nov.    11,1 
1918;  was  placed    in    the    27th  spruce    squadron  A.  S    A.  P.  at   Vancou- 
ver, Washington,  and  received  his  discharge  January  28.  1919. 

10.  Captain  Bine  Plunketfc  enlisted  in  the  service  January  29,  1907:1 
was  commissioned  lieutenant  in  April  19 1.6  and  made  captain  of  the  04th 
U.  S.  Infantry.  July  1918,  preparatory  to  going  to  Franee.  On  arrival  at 
Camp  Merritt,  New  Jersey  had  an  a i tack  of  appendicitis  and  underwent 
an  operation  which  detained  his  sailing  for  a  month.  After  arriving  in 
England  was  attacked  with  the  Flu.  and  was  in  the  hospital  for  a  while 
He  arrived  at  his  company's  quarters  eight  days  after  the  armistice  was  j 
signed,  much  to  his  regret  for  not  seeing  real  action  after  having  studied 
and  worked  for  it. 

11.  1st  Lieutenant  Lora  Plunkett  enlisted  in    the  service   January?,    I 
1914.  spent  four  and  a  halt"  years  on  the    Hawaiian    Islands.     On   Septem- 
ber 2,  1918,  was  commissioned  1st  lieutenant  of  the    2nd  Philippine  Infan- 
try, and  sailed  for  the  Philippine  Islands  on  Sept.  2.  191s-     Is  stationed  at 
Fort  Win.  McKinley.  Rizal  Philippine  Island. 

12  .Tames  R.  Cowan  enlisted  December  I.'!.  1917,  at  Kansas  City.  Mo.,  in 
the  first  enlistment,,  last  ordnance,  Base  hospital  No>  28;  left  for  oversea 
duty  Juue  12,  1918.  Base  hospital  No.  2^  established  a  hospital  atLimoges 
France.  He  arrived  back  in  the  United  States,  April  30.  1919;  was  dis- 
charged at  camp  Tachary  Taylor.  K.v..  May  12.  1919. 

I|-J.  Glen  Clough  went  to  camp  Tavlor.  Ivy..  Oct.  5,  1917.  then  to 
Jattisburg.  Miss.,  then  to  Jersey  City.  N  J.,  and  sailed  June  12.  l'.thS:  was 
1  member  of  the  automatic  machine  gun  company  of  the  151st  Infantry. 

14  Grover  L .  Harshbarger  entered  the  service  July  25.  1918.  and 
vaa  stationed  at  camp  Taylor,  Ky..  until  August  17.  1918.  when  he  was 
rausferred  to  Battery  D,  36th  Field  Artillery  at  camp  MeClellau;  was  dis- 
hanred  January  31,*1919. 

15.      Roberts.  Church,  co.  G  116  Inf.  American  E.  F.  A.  P.  O.  765. 
l<>     Alonzo  Swank  - 

17.     Leland  E.  Olin  inducted  into  the   service    at    cam])  Taylor.  Ky., 
uly  2\  1918,  and  assigned  to  the    list    co.  11th  Tr    Bn.      In    August  was 
mt  to  camp  McClellan,   Ala.,  where  he  was    assigned    to    co.  F.  9th    am- 
munition train,  there  being  trained  for  oversea  duties,    and   learned    later 
iat  they  were  within  eight  hours  of  entraining   for    the   coast.     He  was 
irrented  corp  >ral  September  lr>.  I9l8:  was  made  sergeant    December    In. 
Is.  but  on  account  of  being  sent  the  same  day  to  the  hospital   with  a  bro- 
n  leg  was  never  able  to  resume  duty.     From  the   hospital    was  sent    to 
e  casual  co.  No.  '.\  and  then    to    camp  Taylor  for    discharge    which  was 
anted  February  1".  1919. 
IS.     Robert  Pauley,  engineers,  was  at  Torirs,  1st  lieutenant. 


jT>  -34— 

NOTES 

James  Cowan,  Jr. ,  though  a  man  of  seventy  years,  volunteered  and] 
became  a  member  of  Cap taiu  Gilchrist's  company  called  "the  squirrel! 
hunters, "  which  was  raised  to  go  to  the  defense  of  Cincinnati  when  it' 
was  threatened  by  John  Morgan's  cavalry.  He  was  never  in  action,  but 
received  an  honorable  discharge. 

The  following  was  taken  from  the  monument  which  is  in  fcheold  town 
graveyard  at  the  edge  of  Crawfordsville.  Indiana: 

"Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Micaiah  Reeder,    who   was   horn    April   2-1 
177H.  died  Sept,  14,  1843. 

"Touch  the  love  harp  for  him 
Those  far  from  home. 
Sweet  home  where  love 
Will  fondly  cling.  " 

Sarah  D.,  wife  of  William  L.  John,  daughter  of  Micaiah  Herder  died 
October  21,  1861.  / 

Jane  W.  McPherson.  consort  of  Adam  McPherson,  died  April  F«.  lsl<; 

Russel,  women's  ancestor  was  a  brother  to  Mary  Russel  (  owan,  wife 
of  James  Cowan,  Sr. 

Jam?  White  McPherson 's  brother  in  law  was  a  Presbyterian  minister. 
David  Rice. 

Charles  Russel  and  -lames  Cowan.  Jr.,  wore  cousins;  also  William  Rus- 
sel, a  pork  packer  pi  Lebanon- 
Old  Uncle  Rnssel  lived  in  (Pallia  county.  ( >hio. 

James  Cowan.  Sr..  had  a  brother  Robert,  for  .lames,  Jr.,  use  to  talk 
about  an  Uncle  Robert  Cowan. 

Sarah  Dmsilla  Cowan  always  said  that  James  Cowan,  Sr..  had  a 
brother  who  settled  in  the  South 

Jane  White  McPherson  was  born  duly  12.  175)1  in  Bourbon  county. 
Kentucky,  and  departed  this  life  Feb.  21,  1^73.  She  came  to  this  State  in 
17%  and  settled  in  Clark  county  from  whence  she  removed  to  this  county 
in  I80fl.  and  was  married  to  Charles  Cowan  the  same  year  with  whom  she 
lived  41  years  when  Cod  called  him  home.  She  was  a  member  of  the 
Pr?sbyterian  church  of  Lebanon.  <  >hio.  for  t>3  years.  Although  for  sev- 
eral years  not  being  able  to  attend  the  house  oj  Cod.  yet  she  had  sweet 
communion  with  her  heavenly  Father  in  her  own  home.  The  last  word 
she  uttered  before  her  happy  spirit  passed  through  the  gate.1-  of  the  New 
Jerusalem  was  Peace!  She  passed  away  without  a  struggle,  and  is  now 
asleep  in  Jesus. 


— :i.r)- 


1350134 


An  inventory  of  the  goods  and  ch 
James  Cowan,  Sr.,  deceased,  valuei 
liam  Wills,  Joseph  Mulford  and  Henry 
who  were  chosen  by  the  heirs  of  the 
censed  for  that  purpose  in  order  th: 
Bionof  said  goods  maybe  made,  Sept. 

Gone  stand 
6  nap  table 
l>  one  rocking  chair 
li  three  chairs 
6  one  square  table 
Three  chairs 
Snimmer  and  flesh  fork 
Lantern  and  flesh  fork 
Pano  scale- -hooks 
One  bottle 
One     do 
One  old 

One  candlestick 
Coffee  mill 
Box  iron  and  tin 
I;ire  bellows 
One  jug 

One  line  hatchet 
One  course  hatchet 
Seusage  stuffer 
Knives— forks— box 
fine  conk  shell 
Pewter  bason 
Pewter  dish 
Three  do  plates 
do.     do,     do, 
Spoons 
Coffee  pot 

Set  cups  and  saucers 
Sugar  bowl 
Teapot 

Four  white  plates 
Three  white  bowls 
One  large  bowl 
Four  bowls 
Three  plates 

Old  cues  and  saucers  and  1    p«t 
Cruet  and  Bt<  m  glass  _ 
Salt  sellars 
Canister 

Three  blue  edge  plates 
Six  do,  do.  do 
Five  old  plates 
One  white  dish 
One  green  edge  do 
Corner  cupboard 
One  silver  watch 
One  shotgun  pouch 


attels  of  |  One  pair  of  steel  gards 
Hand  irons 
Shovel  and  toons 
( >ne  old  pot 
Skillet  and  lid 
Hutch  oven 

Bedstead-   bed- bedding 
Powder  horn-  skann 
Saddle  and  bags 
Two  hooks 
Lot  old  books 
|  One  beaureau 
57&  |  One  small  kettle 
( >ne  largo  do 
( >ne  tranip'.le 
Dutch  oven 
( )ne  small  grenstone 
< )ne  large  do 
Chissil  and  hoe 

ho.vel-pik 

tuning  tools 

coopers  ax 

Two  cr  ss 

Lot  of  trace  hoop? 

four  crooked  drawing  k 

lot  of  old  do 

one  drawing  k 
I  compass 
I  Hound  shave  stock 

•  one  saw 

old  sa»v 
1)1)  37J  j  Three  old  axes 
00  $2    '.  One  adze, bale,  file 
l.<)  50      lot  of  old  tools 
(id  Vul    Two  old  collars 
00     of    Three  do,  old  bridles 
00  12.1    Pro1  "' ,l  ,,ri,'M  1,;,n',s 
00  504    Two  pairs  haims 
00   124    Two  hip  straps 
00  20      Two  pair  haims 
00  06$    haulter  chain     old  chain 
00  U\\\    Two  haulter  chains 
(in  Ui\\    Two  back  hands 

!>0  06J    one  'riP 

00  12*    slides  and  b^lly  band 
Oil  chains 
chains  to  waggon 


i  by  \\ 

il-i 

Harner, 

said 

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III 

374 

o.;} 


00 

00 

00    12*  .lack'  screw 

00  OOJ  chain-  to  the  old  w 

00  061  lr",,;:  "f  old  P,,AV 

00  -">  ' w0  forks 

»i0  061  One  old  horse 

00   isj  pair  of  streachers 

00  2")  single  do 

04  50  double  trees  and  C  knifi 

0 1-  50  shovel  plow  irons 

01  00  one  old  waggon 


_ 

01  1 

24 

00  2 

ii 

00  :i 

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00 

<l 

00  !5 

74 

00 

61 

10 

00 

no 

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50 

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00 

121 

00 

124 

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00 

Li  i 

00 

124 

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064 

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l»i 


00 

124 
121 

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12 
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ol 

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00 

—36— 


One  cow  OG  00    j  Old  tub  in  barn  00  12$ 

One  cow  07  00     Pour  tubs  in  entry  007;, 

Two  sheep  01   00    |  Old  barral  and  cag  00  37 J 

'  Total  *lOX.2i;i 

Given  under  our  hands  this  5th  day  of  Sept.  \*2{K  Henry  Harner 

Joseph  Mulford 
Wm.  Wills 
The  aniounnt  of  the  written  valuation  $108.2(>i! 

To  which  add  some  act.,  for  work  is  not  collected  12.874 

f  12*1.14] 
l'rom  which  deduct  funeral  expenses  and  what  will  put  up  suitable  stone  to  the  grave 

of  the  deceased  -  -  22.624 

Leaving  to  divide  between  the  five  heirs  5  |  $  98.51  J 

$  19.70J 
One  of  the  heirs  (ToVVit)  Jane  Reader  Relinquishes  her  share — the  remaining 

shares  tnen  will  be  -  -  -  $  24.624. 

Sept.  lftth,  18-9 — We  the  undersigned  this  day    received    our   full    shares  of  t^e  goods    ami 
chattels  agreeable  to  the  foregoing  valuation. 
And  dividend  being  two  of  the  heirs  at  la«"  of  the  within  named  James  Cowan  Deceased. 

J  awes  Cowan  Jr 
Jrtnii  Cowan 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  pamphlet  which  was  written  by  an  old 
lady  of  Kuoxville,  Tenn.,  and  was  a  story  as  she  remembered  it,  told  by 
old  settlers  in  that  region.  No  doubt  the  main  facts  are  correct,  but  the 
quaint  language  that  is  used  and  the  style  in  which  it  is  written  make-:  ir 
interesting  and  shows  how  these  legions  may  be  changed  by  being  handed 
down  from  generation  to  generation  by  word  of  mouth: 
Jane  <  owan -  -A  Pioneer   -By  Lalla. 

Many  years  ago.  when  Tennesse  was  in  its  infancy,  there  lived  in  the 
county  of  Blount  a  family  by  the  name  of  Cowan.  The  wife's  name  was 
Jane      They  had  one  child,  a  girl,  and  perhaps  other  children. 

The  Indians  were  at  war  with  each  other  and  with  th  >  white-.      From    , 
Old  Town  or  Chillicothe.  Ohio,  as  it  is  now  called,  a  body  of  Shawnee   In-   ' 
dians  came  to  Tennessee  to  war  against  the  whites,    the  Cherokees.  Choc- 
taws  and  other  tribes  of  their   own    race      These  tribes  h;id    years  before 
driven  the  Shawnees  from  their  vast  hunting  grounds  in  the  South,  hence 
they  were  continually  resuming  to  harass  these  Indians  and  white  settlers. 

On  one  these  expeditions  the  Jane  Cowan  of  this  sketch  was  taken 
prisoner.  On  the  morning  of  the. capture  Jane  was  happy  in  her  little 
cabin  home,  her  daughter  by  her  side  and  her  husband  busy  in  the  held-. 
Before  night  she  was  in  an  awful  state,  her  home  was  burned,  her  daugh- 
ter was  lost  and  her  husband  had  been  killed  by  her  side  and  scalped.  She 
was  a  prisoner  and  forced  to  travel  she  knew  not  where.  In  her  bosom 
she  carried  her  husband's  seal]),  which  had  been  thrust  into  her  hands  by 
the  cruel  squaws,  while  it  was  dripping  with  blood  Footsore  and  weary 
and  well  nigh  heartbroken,  the  poor  captive  finally  reached  Old  Town. 
Chillicothe.  Here  she  was  made  a  slave  by  the  squaws  of  the  Shawnees. 
She  made  sugar  from  the  juice  of  the  sugar  maple.  All  night  long  she 
was  forced  to  keep  the  kettles  boiling  by  the  cruel  squaws:  one  night  she 
fell  asleep,  when  she  woke  the  tires  were  out.  She  expected  the  squaws 
would  awake  and  kill  her.  so  she  hastily  renewed  the  fires  and  fortunate- 
ly was  able  to  get  the  kettles  boiling  before  they  found  it  out.    For  a  nnm- 


—.37— 

ber  of  years  Jane  led  a  miserable  life,  but  she  had  one  com  fort,  the  Indian 
braves  did  not  molest  her.  She  was  a  beautiful  woman  and  she  tried  to 
keep  out  of  their  sight  for  fear  one  of  them  might  want  her  as  his  wife. 
Night  after  night  as  she  watched  the  boiling  kettles  and  the  myriad 
stars  shone  down  upon  her  or  the  glorious  moon  turned  the  forest  into  a 
fairyland,  bhe  sat  and  communed  with  the  God  of  her  fathers,  and  her 
own  God  as  well.  She  could  recite  and  sing  many  of  the  Psalms  and 
knew  many  of  the  chapters  of  the  New  Testament  by  heart.  She  was  of 
the  sturdy  Scotch-Irish  stock.  Her  will  power  could  not  be  quelled;  she 
"Endured  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ.  " 

But  unknown  to  Jane,  one  of  the  most  learned  chiefs  of  the  Shawnee 
tribe  was  falling  in  love  with  her  and  often  during  the  niprht  watches  he 
watched  her  closely.  At  first  he  pitied  her,  then  her  beauty  enthralled 
him  and  her  character  charmed  him  and  finally  he  became  greatly  inter- 
ested in  her  God.  For  a  long,  long  time  he  did  not  make  this  known.  He 
was  a  very  somber  chief,  he  knew  that  his  tribe  was  doomed,  for  ew'u  at 
this  time,  the  Great  Six  Nations  only  recognized  the  Shawnee  as  a'wan- 
dering  tribe.  He  was  interpreter  between  the  Indians  and  the  whites. 
He  could  speak  English  and  French  and  sevesal  Indian  languages.  Fi- 
nally he  could  keep  silent  no  longer,  and  one  night  while  -lane  was 
watching  the  boiling  kettles  he  apn roach ed  her:  she  was  greatly  disturbed 
but  his  gentleness  soon  disarmed  her  and  when  she  found  that  he  was  in- 
terested in  the  God  of  whom  he  had  so  often  heard  her  speak.  she  at  once 
lost  all  thought  of  self  as  she  led  him  step  byVtep  into  the  light  of  the 
Gospel.     Thus  months  and  perhaps  years' passed  by. 

But  one  night  the  Chief  Squaw  learned  of  these  communings;  she 
hated  Jane  because  she  could  not  make  her  show  fear,  for. lane  would  not 
be  a  menial  although  she  was  forced  to  do  a  menial's  work.  The  Chief 
Squaw  also  hated  the  Somber  Chief  because  he  had  spurned  her  love  and 
she  longed  for  revenge.  She  knew  that  Jane  shrank  from  marrying  an 
Indian,  she  also  knew  that  if  flu1  Chief  married  a  white  woman  he  would 
loose  caste  with  his  tribe  and  would  never  be  allowed  to  sit  in  their  coun- 

•  oils  of  war  or  wear  the  royal  dress  of  his  people.     She   therefore  resolved 

;  that  Jane  should  be  forced  into,  a  marriage  with  him.  "Then"' she  cried 
"I  will  be  revenged."  Jane  did  not  know  nil  this  but  the  chief  did.  but 
he  resolved  to  give  up  everything  if  he  could  win  .lane's    love,  but  this  he 

i  soon  found  he  could  not  do:  when  he  asked  her  to  be  his  wife  'die  silently 
showed  him  her  husband's  seal])  which    she    still  carried    in    her    bosom. 

J  "That  is  what  your  people  did.  "  she  finally  said  "If  I  ever  marry  again  I 
will  marry  one  of  jny  own  race  "  The  chief  bowed  and  left  her-  For 
many  nights  she  was  left  alone  with  her  boiling  kettles  and  the  chief 
grew  more  and  more  somber  and  Jane  more  and  more  sad.  When  they 
happened  to  meet  during  the  day  they  did  not  speak,  but  .lane's  face  said 
plainer  than  words  "Have  I  lost  my  only  friend.'''  After  one  of  these 
meetings  the  chief  went  off  alone.  "I  must  think  of  some  way  to  get  her 
back  to  her  people"  he  said  to  himself.  When  he  returned  he  had  a  way 
planned  and  arranged  to  carry  it  out.  The  plan  was  this,  he  meant  to 
steal  Jane  and  with  a  number  of    braves   and  their    squaws,  take  her  to  a 

i  fort  in  Canada.    He  accomplished    his  end  but    through    many  hardships. 
They  traversed  nearly  the  whole  State  of  ( »hio  and  crossed    Lake    Erie  on 
_  the  ice -This  is  fact  not  fiction. 

One  cold  morning  when  they  were  near   their    journeys    end  a  "Rum- 


— fc     ■■'■•-'«- 


—  oo — 

■ — - — j 

net*"  came  in  with  the  word  Mini  a  party  of  Shawnces  were  hot  on  then" 
trail.  Soon  after  Jane's  disappearance,  the  chief  matron  of  the  Shawneet 
who  outranked  the  chief  squaw,  learned  in  whoso  company  Jane  had  es- 
caped. Her  influence  with  the  council  was  great  The  somber  chief  was 
li3r  nephew  and  could  not.  be  spared  from  their  ranks  or  be  suffered  to 
marry  a  white  woman,  was  her  verdict,  hence  their  pursuit. 

This  the  chief  told  Jane  that  cold  morning  as  they  neared  the  forti 
He  vvas  clothed  in  his  royal  dress  and  made  an  imposing  figure.  "Leave 
me'1  cried  Jane  when  he  had  finished  "I  can  surely  make  my  way  in  safe- 
ty now,  you  have  suffered  much  for  me,  go  hick  to  your  people  and  teach 
them  the  great  truths  of  the  Gospel,  about  the  Great  Three  in  <  me,"  and 
she  held  out  her  hand.  "Goodby"  she  said,  but  the  chief  shook  his  head, 
"I  will  teach  my  people  these  (Treat  Truths,  God  willing,  hut,  now  1  must 
see  you  safe  in  the  fort,  '-"Come!"  and  Jane  went.  They  had  gotten  with- 
in a  quarter  of  a  mile  of  the  fort  when  a  ferocious  yell  proclaimed  that 
their  pursuers  were  near  at  hand,  'Jinn.  Jane,  run.11  I  will  stand  between 
you  a  and  them  as  long  as  there  is  life  in  my  body."  Jane  rati,  protected 
by  the  somber  chief  and  the  watchman  at  the  fort,  seeing  the  race,  rush- 
ed out  and  dragged  her  in  just  in  the  nick  of  time.  When  the  pursuers 
saw  that  the  somber  chief  was  clothed  in  his  royal  dress  they  knew  that 
he  had  not  deserted.  They  supplied  him  with  a  "Mount''  and  silently 
turned  to  retrace  their  steps  homeward.  Jane  and  the  watchman  cheer-. 
ed  lustily,  but  the  somber  chief  looked  steadily  before  him  making  no 
sic;n.   That  was  the  last  time  Jane  ever  saw  her  chieftain  lover. 

Some  months  after  that  Jane,  with  the  aid  of  her  new  friends  mad.* 
her  way  to  Pennsylvania  to  some  relatives  and  these  friends  in  torn  as- 
sisted her  along  the  Great  War  Path  southward  until  she  again  reached 
Blount. county.  Tenn.,  where  her  daughter  and  friends  received  her  as 
one  risen  from  the  dead.     She  married  and  settled  down  once  more. 

Some  seven  years  afterward  Jane  was  again  captured  with  her  daugh- 
ter, this  time  by  southern  Indians  who  took  them  to  Georgia.  But  Jane 
had  learned  many  lessons  during  the  first  cantnre,  she  easily  commanded 
the  respect  of  her  captors  by  her  bold  front,  and  intrepid  spirit  and  was 
enabled  to  shield  her  daughter  and  herself  from  harm. 

One  day  they  were  exchanged  with  other  prisoners  at  a  peace  confer- 
ence.    They  again  landed  in  Old  Blount  and  there  ended  their  days. " 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  shipping  bill  that  was  found  among 
Thomas  Cowan's  papers: 

Cincinnati  May  1?  18n0 

Sniped  wagon  to  Messrs.  Hewitt  Roe  &  Co  Saint  Louis  iV  instructed 
them  to  forward  same  t<>  Nobel  &  Gail  Ketesburg  Illinois  &  say  to  them 
the  wagon  was  for  Mr  John  Cowan  near  Ketsburg  and  from  Thomas  Cow- 
an of  Lebanon  Ohio. 

"One  two  horse  wagon  (Running  gear)  No  1  wheels  1x2  with  Double  trees 
hammer,  bolts,  hinch  pins  &c  complete.  Marked   with  a  white  paint 

cross  X 


—30— 

EXCURSUS. THE  WHITEHILL  FAMILY 

James  Whitehill,  the  ancester  of  the  American  Whitehills,  was  of 
Scotch  descent,  hut  whether  horn  in  Scotland,  or  in  the  north  of  Ireland, 
(whither  he  or  his  parents  had  first  emigrated),  or  in  the  State  of  Penn- 
sylvania is  not  known. 

One  ef  his  grandchildren  was  heard  to  say  that  she  used  to  pee,  when 
a  child,  in  her  grandfather's  house  in  Pennsylvania  a  painting  of  the  arms 
of  Lord  Stair,  and  was  told  that  her  family  descended  from  the  author  of 
the  Glencoe  Massacre,  or  his  father,  the  older  Dalrymple. 

He  was  born  in  1700,  and  married  Miss  Cjriswell,  in  1728.  Three  of  his 
five  sons  were  members  of  Congress  from  Pennsylvania  1805-14,  viz:  John 
horn  1720,  died  1815,  Robert  died  1813,  and  James  died  1822. 

In  McMaster's  "History  of  the  People  of  the  United  States,"'  the 
name  of  Mi*.  Whitehill  Cone  of  the  above)  is  frequently  mentioned  as  a 
leader  in  the  Pennsylvania  legislature. 

Robert  was  the  great  grand-father  of  J.  (^.  A.  Ward,  the  sculptor. 
Joseph  Whitehill.  the  tenth  child  and  youngest  son  of  James,  born 
1746.  This  sou  inherited  or  otherwise  acquired  the  old  family  home  and 
about  four  hundred  acres  of  land;  and  also  engaged  in  business  as  a  mer- 
chant at  Lancaster.  He  married  in  1780,  Mary  Kenedy,  daughter  of  Thos. 
Kenedy  and  Rachel  Clark,  born  1761.  Through  the  mismanagement  of  a 
business  partner,  Joseph  Whitehill  lost  his  property  and  land,  and  about 
1800  moved  to  Botetourt  county.  Va.,  where  he  lived  upon  a  farm  until 
his  death  in  1808.  His  widow  died  in  18'0.  The  bodies  of  both  lie  in  the 
old  Presbyterian  burying  ground  at  Fincastle 

There  was  born  to  them  ten  children,  three  sons  and  seven  daughters. 
The  oldet  son  remained  in  Pennsylvania.  The  second  son,  Joseph,  dur- 
ing the  war  of  1812,  was  a  lieutenant  in  a  militia  company  raised  in  Bote- 
tourt county,  and  during  the  campaign  at  Norfolk,  became  captain. 

In  1815  the  surviving  members  of  the  familv  moved  to  Ohio,  settling 
in  Warren  county.  Beside  Joseph  there  came  six  sisters  and  one  brother, 
the  later,  however,  dying  the  first  year  after  removal. 

Two  or  these  sisters,  viz:  Mary,  born  Oct.  Ifl,  1788,  and  Hannah,  born 
Nov.  28,  1700,  married,  respectively.  Thomas  Smith  and  Judge  George 
James  Smith.     'See  Smith  Excursus,  pp.  168-fl). 

Susannah,  born  Oct.  2!),  17(.)2.  married  1817,  John  Tate,  and  left  a 
large  family  who  reside  in  southern  Ohio,  excepting  two  sons  -lames  S. 
and  David  Morris,  prominent  and  successful  grain  merchants  residing  in 
New  York  and  Chicago,  respectively.  Rachel  married  Dr.  Morris,  of  Leb- 
anon. Rebecca,  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pa.,  Oct.  21.  17'.h;,  died  April 
IB,  1838,  married  Nov.  0,  1824,  William  Cowan,  a  native  of  Virginia,  who 
died  April  28.  1834,  aged  .34,  and  had  a  daughter  Elizabeth  .  who  married 
Judge  -Tames  S.  Goode,   No.  474. 

Neither  Josebh  Whitehill  nor  his  sister  Jane  ever  married.  The  for- 
mer was  twice  elected  sheriff  of  Warren  county,  and  afterwards  served 
four  terms  as  representative  in  the  state1  legislature.  In  ls;'>4,  he  was  elect- 
ed treasurer  of  state,  an  office  he  continued  to  hold  through  successive  re- 
elections  for  twelve  years.  Mr.  Whitehill  and  his  sister  Jane  moved  to 
Columbus  in  l8.'U,  and  resided  there,  universally  esteemed  and  respected, 
until  the  death  of  the  former  in  1861.     Miss  Whitehill,   who  was  the  eldest 


—  40- 


of  the  family  coming  to  Ohio,  and  whom  all  the  others  regarded  as  a  kin 
of  second  mother,  was  a  woman  of  nohle  traits  and  groat  intelligence 
She  died  in  1 S * > r» ,  in  Springfield.— Quoted  from  G.  Brown  G-oode's  "Vir 
ginia  Cousins.  "  ]>.  160-170. 

A  Reminiscence  of  Mrs.  Pauline  Reeder  Berkstres^er  childhood  a? 
told  by  her  at  the  Cowan  Reunion,  August  1'.'.  HH9.  which  was  held  at  the 
old  original  homestead:  "I  happened  to  he  the  youngest  girl  that  grew 
to  womanhood  in  the  largest  family  of  the  Cowan  blood.  J.  of  course,  do 
not  remember  as  much  about  our  life  in  this  neighborhood  as  some  of  the 
older  ones,  but  the  memory  -of  the  old  homestead — the  old  brick  house  on 
the  hill  and  its  surroundings— is  so  indelible  stamped  upon  my  mind  that 
nothing  can  obliterate  it  and  cause  it  to  appear  different  than  it  was  when 
we  played  there  as  children. 

I  would  like  to  relate  an  incident  of  our  childhood  which  happened  at 
"the  old  red  brick. "  as  we  always  called  it.  Itisabout  my  earliest  rec- 
ollection, as  I  was  only  five  years  old  at  the  time,  and  a1-  it  turned  out  to 
be  quite  an  important  event  foe  me  it  made  a  lasting  impression  upon  me. 

<  me  day  while  out  playing  with  my  three  older  sisters  they  conceived 
the  idea  of  having  a  royal  procession  and  the  choice  fell  upon  me  for 
queen.  I  had  a  luxurious  head  of  brown  curly  hair  which  early  in  the 
morning  had  been  curled  and  by  afternoon  had  clustered  itself  in  tight 
ringlets.  The  next  problem  was  a  crown.  Running  to  a  nearby  burdock 
patch  my  sisters  came  with  their  aprons  full  of.  burrs  and  proceeded  to 
stick  them  around  my  head  in  the  form  of  a  band.  Not  quite  satisfied 
with  the  effect  they  rolled  my  hair  up  on  top,  and  the  busy 
fingers  of  three  pairs  of  hands  fairly  Hew  until  1  was  adorned  with  a  high 
pyramid  of  burdock  burrs  a  crown  of  which  any  queen  might  have  been 
proud.  An  abandoned  washing  machine  which  stood  by  the  side  of  the 
house  was  hurried  on  the  scene.  The  fact  that  it  still  stood  cm  its  four 
lees  and  could  be  pulled  along  made  it  ideal  as  a  chariot.  Our  pet  calf 
which  was  peacefully  grazing  in  the  yard  was  captured  and  hitched  to  the 
chariot  in  which  I  was  seated  in  front  as  queen  and  my  next  older  sistc  r 
in  the  back  as  lady  in  waitiag.  The  royal  procession  was  all  set,  but  the 
calf  refused  to  move.  Some  apple  tree  sprouts  were  procured  and  applied 
vigorously,  which  brought  about  quicker  action  than  an}'  of  us  had  antic- 
ipated. Turning  and  becoming  frightened  at  such  queenly  dignity  the 
calf  gave  one  quick  jerk  and  ran.  and  the  qu"on.  lady  in  waiting  and 
chariot  were  thrown  about  the  yard  in  all  directions.  T'p  to  this  time 
there  had  been  no  music,  but  the  musie  that  now  broke  forth  from  sister 
and  me.  and  especially  from  me,  as  the  loss  of  my  crown  had  not  been  en- 
tirety painless,  brought  mother  to  the  door,  and  if  is  needless  to  say  that, 
the  apple  tree  sprouts  were  put  to  better  use.  It  was  necessary  for  moth- 
er to  cut  my  hair  close  t»  my  head,  and  the  leaders  of  the  project  were 
severely  punished  and  compelled  to  retire  in  disgrace. 

Little  did  I  think  when  I  parted  from  my  schoolmates  on  the  last  day 
I  attended  school  in  this  district  that  if  would  be  so  many  years  before  we 
should  meet  again,  and  that  the  place  of  meeting  would  be  so  near  the 
old  homestead  and  fch:  occasion  the  Cowan  Family  Reunion.  But  such  is 
human  life. 


•      •  —41— 

Sometimes,  when  going  a  weary  mile, 
We  wonder,  if  we   should  rest  awhile 
And  seek  old  friends  whom  we  used  to  know 
Away  hack  them  in  the  long  ago, 
And  seek  a  stream  where  we  used  to  wade, 
And  rest  awhile  in  the  grateful  shade, 
And  hark  awhile  to  a  wild  hird's  song — 
Would  all  of  the  world  we're  in  go  wrong? 

If  we  should  stop  for  a  chat  and  smile 

With  friends  who  once  made  the  world  worth  while, 

If  we  should  go  for  a  day  out  far 

Where  the  meadow-blooms  and  the  children  are. 

Where  trees  are  tall  and  tin1  skies  are  fair. 

And  drop  all  worry  and  drop  all  care, 

Would  all  we're  working  to  win  and  do 

r-o  whirling  wrong  and  be  all  askew? 

Friends  were  so  fine  in  the  old,  old  days! 
The  resting  trees  and  the  blossomed  ways, 
.    The  wildhird  song  and  the  oare-free  times. 

The  rushing  streams  and  the  mountain  climbs  — 
And  now  we're  mesh*1  d  in  the  gears  of  life, 
The  rush  and  crush  and  the  work  and  strife 
We  sometimes,  going  a  weary  mile. 
Wish  we  might  turn  from  the  way  awhile. 

And  what  about  my  wanderings  since  I  left  here !  They  can  only  be 
compared  to  the  forty  years'  wanderings  of  the  Children  of  Israel  in  the 
wilderness— the  wilderness  of  mortal  mind.  But  about  a  half  score  of 
years  ago  I  received  my  first  glimpse  of  the  Promised  Laud  through  the 
healing  of  an  ailment  that  had  been  with  me  for  more  than  u  quarter  of  a 
century.  Since  then  I  have  been  gradually  working  out  of  the  mortal 
wilderness  and  slowly  but  surely  emerging  into  the  Laud  of  Promise,  and 
I  find  it  all  that  Divine  Mind  had  promised  it  should  be.  I  sec  but  few 
familiar  faces  here  this  afternoon  but  I  see  none  but  what  I  love,  and  1 
shall  always  remember  the  1919  Cowan  Family  Reunion  as  one  of  the 
happy  events  of  my  life. " 

There  are  several  old  relies  of  the  Cowans  yet  in  existence,  a  few  of 
which  are:  Two  or  three  combs  to  comb  flax:  a  reel  to  wind  yarn  into 
cuts.  120  turns  before  it  cracks,  thus  telling  when  a  sk^en  i^  measured;  i 
tread  wheel:  several  old  chairs  belonging  to  Jane  White  MePherson  Cowan 
and  her  mother,  one  in  particular  which  was  made  by  James  Cowan.  Jr.. 
it  had  high  arms  so  if  would  be  more  comfortable  for  Jane  White McPher- 
son  Cowan's  mother:  bread  mixer;  a  wooden  keg  made  with  wooden  pins: 
also  an  old  long  gun  and  powder  horn  bearing  the  date  May  1800. 

Parts  of  letters  received  by  th<j  author  saved  for  references  for  those 
who  care  to  try  and  trace  the  lineal  descent  back  farther  which  the  an 
thor  has  been  unable  to  find  the  connecting  link: 

From  John  T.  Cowan,  Whitethorn,  Va. :— "My  father  was  Arthur,  his 
father  was  Robert  and  came  from  Ireland  and  settled  in  West  Mereland 
county.  Pa.,  where  my  father  was  born.  Father  had  several  brothers, 
James  and   John   who    remained    in  Pennsylvania;  Patrick,  Robert  and 


—42— 

William  settled  in  Illinois,  Robert  at  (Georgetown  and  Patrick  at  Dan 
ville  where  be  has  a  son.  William  C.  living  now.  My  father  had  twc 
brothers,  Isaac  and  (George,  who  resides  in  West  Va.  I  was  born  at 
Clarksburg.  W.  Va.  Also  had  four  sisters  who  married  men  respectively 
(Gardner,  of  Putman  county,  W.  Va.-  Gibbons,  of  Little  Rock.  Ark.;  Pack 
er,  of  Missouri;  Ward,  Atlanta,  Mo.    Mrs.  Packer  lived  to  be  102  years  old.' 

From  Clinton  Cowen,  State  highway   commissioner,  Columbus.  Ohio 
"The  family  as  I  understand  came   to    America    from     Ireland   about  200 
years  ago.     First  settled  or   stopped   in    Newfoundland  and    spent   some 
time  as  fishermen.     (Grandfather  Cowen  "s  name  was  William:  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  1774  or  1775  near  the  Susquehenna  river.     He  came  to  Cin 
einnati.  ( )hio.  among  the  earliest  settlers  and  lived  in  Hamilton   and  ( 'ler 
mont  counties  until  his  death  which  was  about   1840.     He  had  a  brother 
Edward.     Both  resided  in  Bedford  county.  Pa.     Some  of  the  family  is  sti 
there.     My  father  was  Elijah.     He   had  a  brother  William,    who    resided 
near  Shelhyville.  Ind.     William's  complete   military    record    inn y  be  had 
from  the    war  department    in    Washington,     fie    was  a  lieutenant  in  the 
revolutionary  war  and  drew  a  pension.'' 

From  Mrs.  Laura  A.  Blaine.  Springfield.  Mo.:  "Our  line  we  feel  sure 
comes  from  the  Walker-Cowan  ancestry  as  the  name  Samuel  Walker  Cow- 
an is  civen  on  down  in  our  line.  We  know  there  were  seven  Cowan 
brothers  came  over  and  three  of  them  married  Walkers,  vi/,:  Samuel  mar- 
ried Anne  Walker  'our  line  we  think):  Wm.  C.  married  Jane  Walker,  and 
Andrew  married  Mary  Walker.  The  other  brothers  John  four  ancestor) 
James,  Matthew  and  David,  who  came  to  Pennsylvania  about  1720;  then 
some  went  to  Augusta  and  Rockbridge  county.  Va.,  thence  to  Tennessee 
and  Kentucky.  My  grandfather  was  John  Cowan,  born  in  Rockbridge 
county.  Va..  17f>8;  married  in  17%  to  Margaret.  Weir  of  the  same  comity. 
John  had  a  brother  James  who  married  Roily  Montgomery.  Their  father 
was  killed  by  Indians,  and  their  mother  taken  captive.  James  also,  but  he 
escaped  in  a  year.  We  have  no  record  of  Jane  or  Mary  as  captives,  but  do 
of  Ann. " 

From  J.  R.  Cowan,  Danville.  Ky. :  "My  branch  of  the  Cowan 
family  in  Kentucky  dates  back  to  Captain  John  Cowan,  who  emigrated 
from  Lancaster.  Pa  ,  by  way  of  Va.  arid  settled  in  Kentucky  about  1770. 
He  made  several  trips  prior  with  his  brother  .Tames  who  was  killed  by  In- 
dians. Their  father  was  Henry  Cowan  who  emigrated  from  South  Scot- 
land and  located  in  Lancaster  county.  Pa.  His  sons  were  John,  James 
and  David.  Capt.  John  Cowan  was  a  government  surveyor  of  Kentucky 
and  Va. " 

From  Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Lellen.  Waterbury.  Conn.:  "My  maiden 
name  was  Sarah  L.  Cowan.  James  Cowan  was  my  brother.  My  father 
William  Kirkpatriek  Cowan,  was  born  in  Londonbury.  Ireland,  in  1806. 
His  grandfather  was  William.  His  grandmother  was  Elizabeth  Fulton. 
She  was  related  to  Robert  Fulton,  "the  American  steamboat  man."  My 
father's  mother  was  Scotch.  My  father  had  one  brother  John  who  died 
in  Danbury.  Conn.,  in  1880.  My  father  died  in  Pittsfield,  Mass..  in  I87fi. 
Uncle  James  Cowan  died  in  New  York  about.  60  years  ago.  My  father 
came  to  this  country  when  a  boy  to  live  in  New  York  with  his  uncle.     My 


—43- 


pre.it  grandfather  had  six  sons  and  two  daughters;  two  were  farmers;  two 
came  to  America;  two  were  merchants;  my  grandfather  w;iss  amerehant.'1 

From  Miss  Lillian  Cowan,  Detroit,  Mich.:  *'I  do  not  believe  there 
is  any  connection  between  your  ancestors  and  ours.  However,  we  know 
very  little  regarding  onrs.  We  are  relatives  of  Mahew  Cowan,  formerly 
member  of  parliament  for  years.  He  is  a  lawyer,  practicing  somewhere 
in  Ottawa  or  Toronto,  Canada." 

From  Mrs.  Janet  Cowan,  Detroit.  Mich.:  "My  husband's  people  all 
belong  to  Glasgow,  .Scotland.  His  lather  was  -lames  Cowan;  he  died 
about  1 5  years  ago  at  the  age  of  75  years.'1 

From  H.  W.  Cowan,  Holyoke,  Mass. :  ''I  do  not  think  our  family  is 
closely  connected  with  the  Pennsylvania  Cowans,  wo  haying  come  from 
north  of  Ireland  to  Maine  originally,  .lames  Cowan  told  me  years  ago 
that  his  family  was  of  the  Pennsylvania  branch.  " 

From  Captain  Arthur  Cowan:  "All  of  my  people  have  lived  in  Maine 
for  many  years  hack.  I  am  unable  to  trace  any  connection  with  the  fam- 
ily mentioned  in  your  letter  ." 

From  the  Filson  Club.  Louisville.  Ky. ;  In  the  2nd  volume  of  Collins' 
History  of  Kentucky  on  page  78-1  you  will  find  John  <  owan  referred  to  in 
the  index  for  several  pages,  John  Cowan  came  to  Kentucky  with  the 
Long  Hunters  from  Virginia,  who  made1  their  headquarters -at  what  is  now 
Harrods burg, and  John  Cowan  thereafter  be  jame  a  permanent  character  in 
the  early  history  of  the  State.  I  find  a  James  Cowan,  but  I  did  not  en- 
deavor to  find  out  anything  of  his  history. 

From  Va.  State  Library. —  Lists  of  Revolutionary  Soldiers  from  Vir- 
ginia. One  entry  standing  in  name  of  Capt.  John  Cowan;  eight  entries 
in  name  of  John  Cowan  (Co wen)  private.  These  entries  gives  no  family 
information. 


MEMORY,  OUR  GUEST 

Relentless  Time  moves  to  the  goal  of  Never 
Upon  a  shoreless  ocean,  where  we  rid", 

Lured  by  the  murmurs  of  a  v  ast  Forever 
That  seem  to  reach  us  from  a  father's  side. 

The  riddle  of  the  Future's  always  hidden; 

Outstretched  behind  uslies  the  growing  past: 
And  Memory  toour  feast  tonight  is  bidden, 

With  all  her  wealth  of  pictures  while  they  h-t! 

There  are  some  moments  fuller  for  their  coming 
Than  all  the  common  passing  days  and  nights. 

And  none  so  full  as  those  when  we  are  summing 
Our  deavst  recollections' rare  delights. 

So  let  u.-  pause  a  little  ere  we  wander 

Along  the  trackless  waste  of  things  to  be: 

And  turning  from  the  great  unknown  out  yonder, 
Attune  our  souls  to  Memory's -harmony. 

For  sitting  over  at  our  feasts  of  reason, 
And  lingering  ever  with  our  flow  of  soul, 

Our  evening's  guest  will  grace  each  passing  season, 
And  each,  with  reverent  pause,  will  read  hpr  fcr'dl. 


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